Members of the Toronto Scottish Regiment will be lined up along the Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade on December 2 to collect dog and cat food for charity.

The pet food collected will go to LAMP CHC to provide for those with dogs and cats.

Parade goers are being asked to bring cans or bags of the pet food with them to support the Regiment and Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA), who are sponsoring the drive.

“The Canadian Army and Lakeshore Village BIA are joining forces to feed dogs and cats,” said BIA Chair Chris Korwin-Kuczynski. “We will be along the parade route collecting the food.”

The Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade started as an idea in 1990 as an effort between the Lakeshore Village and Long Branch BIAs, to bring back a Christmas Parade after a 25 year hiatus.

It was created to draw crowds, support local businesses, and showcase that the Etobicoke Lakeshore area was a vibrant and attractive community to live, work and play.

The parade attracts more than 60,000 members of the community every year, and is celebrating its 33^rd anniversary this year.

South Etobicoke residents are breathing a sigh of relief with the arrests of two brothers who are accused of ripping off property owners in a home renovation scam.

Police allege the two men were going door to door between June and October to speak to homeowners in relation to exterior home renovations.

The suspects claimed to be from a company called ‘Town and Country Paving,’ and falsely advised homeowners of issues with their property, officers from 22 Division alleged.

The men would normally request a deposit for the renovations and would refuse to complete the job unless additional payments were made, police said in a news release.

The suspects are accused of leaving the jobs unfinished and properties damaged.

Police have issued warnings to alert the public about renovation frauds occurring across the city.

“Suspects typically solicit door to door, handing out flyers for fraudulent or non-existent companies offering services for roofing, paving and fencing,” according to officers. “The work is usually never completed or is substandard and done with poor quality products.”

Police said the suspects often target elderly and vulnerable citizens using high-pressure tactics to start work immediately.

Police warn seniors to be wary of unsolicited contractors going door to door using pressure tactics and demanding payment in cash, bank draft or a large down payment.

“Avoid impulse decisions to hire a contractor,” police warned. “Do your research either online, references or word of mouth.”

Police are urging homeowners to select a reputable company and obtain a detailed written contract before any work is done.

Some residents have taken to social media to also warn of a group of men going around the South Etobicoke area asking to do roof work since they claim to be working In the area.

“Please beware of a scam that’s happening in/outside the GTA and most recently in the Islington and Royal York Area,” one resident wrote on social media last month.

Domenic Ward, 30, and John Ward, 23, of Milton, have each been charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000, mischief and damage to property not exceeding $5000, mischief over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

They were slated to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, at 2201 Finch Avenue W, on October 6.
Investigators believe that there are more victims.

A large, national bank is extending its support for Humber College’s Indigenous students by helping to support two new programs.

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Foundation has gifted $200,000 to continue its peer-to-peer programs while also launching the Indigenous Pre-Orientation Week program and an RBC Indigenous Emergency Fund.

“Recognizing the profound impact of systemic racism on Indigenous communities across Canada, RBC is committed to helping create change,” said Kris Depencier, a Greater Toronto RBC regional president.   “By empowering Indigenous students and alumni, fostering inclusion, education, and meaningful opportunities, we’re working together to create a more equitable future.”

Indigenous Pre-Orientation Week is a week-long camp including a series of gatherings, talks and events to orient new Indigenous students to Humber and build skills to assist in their success while attending college.

The pilot program for Indigenous students takes place in the summer leading up to the students’ first semester at Humber.

The RBC Indigenous Emergency Fund provides support to students who need immediate short-term financial relief because of emergency situations. The funds can be quickly accessed when needed and will help keep students enrolled in their program and focused on their studies.

The RBC Grad-Ready Program supports Indigenous students with specialized career coaching and resources during the final year of their studies and the first year after graduation.

Students receive guidance and advice they need to navigate their job search and build relationships with potential employers. It helps industry and business partners build more inclusive and respectful work environments for Indigenous employees.

The Peer-to-Peer Indigenous Support System pairs new students with upper-year Indigenous students to transition into college life successfully.

“The gift from RBC will empower Indigenous students to start a new chapter of their lives with confidence,” said Jason Seright, a Humber vice-president of Inclusion and Belonging. “Indigenous learners need culturally appropriate, Indigenous-aligned resources and the freedom to tailor those resources as they see fit.”

Michael Jenkins, who is Métis, graduated last year from Humber’s Bachelor of Public Relations program and was a member of the Indigenous Peer Mentoring team. He mentored a group of Indigenous students attending Humber, helping them build their network and develop life skills.

“I think it was nice for them to know that someone was looking out for them,” said Jenkins. “It was rewarding helping people navigate a big part of their lives.”

Kara Neveau, who is from Batchewana First Nation, graduated earlier this year from Humber’s Bachelor of Community Development program and served as an Indigenous peer mentor.

“I would 100 per cent recommend getting involved in these programs because they helped with starting my career and the skills I needed for the workplace,” Neveau said.

The province is recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month

throughout October by promoting the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and creating inclusive workplaces.

“Hiring employees of all abilities helps employers meet their goals and boosts productivity and innovation, said MPP Christine Hogarth.

The Ontario government is supporting 3,770 people with disabilities to find meaningful jobs in their communities by investing $6.5 million through the Skills Development Fund Training Stream for five innovative projects.

They are also giving businesses the resources to hire and create more inclusive workplaces and investing in the EnAbling Change Program to help make sectors more inclusive.

“Job opportunities are especially important for people with disabilities because many face social and economic challenges,” Hogarth said. “When people with disabilities find meaningful work, they can participate more fully in our communities and economy.”

The province is working with Peel Career Assessment Services Inc.’s ‘Ability Works’ project to support equitable employment opportunities, providing career skills assessments and counselling to help job seekers with disabilities through Ontario Employment Assistance Services.

Roughly 2.6 million people in Ontario have a disability. This means roughly one in four Ontarians live with a disability and face various types of accessibility challenges in their everyday life.

On October 19 the government took part in the Ontario Disability Employment Network’s Light It Up! For NDEAM event as buildings across the province, including several provincial government buildings, will be lit in blue and purple to promote the month.

“Ontario is making workplaces more accessible and inclusive for everyone by funding and promoting inclusive employment opportunities.”

They are also creating awareness on how employers can access fresh talent and reach new customers by hiring people with disabilities and helping organizations to ensure their hiring process is more equitable based on an Accessible Recruitment Process Checklist.

Toronto has been the scene of 200 of the 300 carjackings that occurred in the GTA so far his year, according to police.

A joint police task force has been put together to stem the incidents of violence related to auto crimes occurring in Ontario, which has increased over the last several years.

South Etobicoke has had more than 200 car thefts in the last year. Some 13 vehicles were reported stolen in Etobicoke West Mall in 2022. About 96 were stolen in Islington-City Centre West that same year, with 41 swiped in Mimico, 10 in New Toronto, 30 in Long Branch and 40 in Alderwood in 2022.

On October 18 two youths were arrested for stealing a 2023 Hyundai Elantra in Rexdale. The suspects bumped the vehicle from behind and when it stopped one youth pulled out a gun and stole the vehicle.

Police said the stolen vehicles are used to carry out other crimes or are shipped overseas for resale. The vehicle identification numbers (VINs) are altered and the vehicles are sold domestically.

“Carjackings are a serious public safety issue, which have resulted in assault and even homicides,” said OPP Supt. Paul Mackey, of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB). “To evade police, thieves may drive dangerously, putting the lives of pedestrians, other motorists and police in danger.”

The newly-created Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force (PCJTF) will involve Toronto Police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

It also involves police services from across the GTA, including York Regional Police, Halton Regional Police Service, Durham Regional Police Service, Peel Regional Police and other agencies, including Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario.

“The violence associated with auto thefts in Toronto and across the GTA is a concerning trend, and can be incredibly traumatic for victims and their loved ones,” said OECB Supt. Steve Watts.

The officers will address the rising incidents of violence related to auto crimes across the city.

“Whether it be a carjacking, a home invasion, an assault, or other form of intimidation, the level of violence being used in the commission of these offences represents a new and evolving threat to public safety,” according to a police.

The purpose of the PCJTF is to disrupt the networks responsible for high-risk auto thefts, which increasingly involve violence, firearms and other weapons.

“Members of the task force will work to maximize enforcement efforts against criminal organizations involved in violent vehicle crimes who are operating within the GTA,” police said.

The PCJTF will be notified of violent auto crime occurrences taking place in each jurisdiction, which will then be investigated by the respective service and task force.

Anyone with information about auto thefts in their community is encouraged to call police at 1-800-222-TIPS (6477) or visit ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

 

 

So who did it.

The book Death in Etobicoke and other Humorous Tales is about a murder in the community and is hitting the stores soon.

Written by best-selling New Toronto author Scott Colby, a long-time Toronto Star journalist, the book has been receiving rave comments.

Colby said the book is a collection of six short stories, all of which have been published in the satirical Canadian magazine, The Feathertale Review.

“The first three stories are the Death in Etobicoke trilogy that feature a Goth temptress, Lucy Fehr (Lucifer) who finds ways to kill me in each story,” he explained.

The first Death in Etobicoke story was my way of making fun of the Thomas Mann classic “Death in Venice” which I was reading in my book club at the time, he said, adding that he wrote a parody of it, called Death in Etobicoke, Inspired the Ultimate Sacrifice for my Book Club.

“I had so much fun with that that years later I wrote a sequel that was set in a creepy storage unit on Evans Avenue,” Colby said. It was “a real place that reminded me of the hallways in the hotel in “The Shining.”

The story Silence of the Pigeons is a mash up of “The Shining” and “Silence of the Lambs,” but set in a vacant storage unit on Evans Avenue during a blizzard and features passenger pigeons that return from extinction.

“The reason for that is the word Mimico is derived from the Indigenous word for “where the wild pigeons gather,” he said. “I struggled to understand why this species meant so much to a modern goth and a self-storage business in a South Etobicoke industrial park.”

The third instalment, Rebirth in Etobicoke: A Love Story, is far from a love story and is partially inspired by “Rosemary’s Baby.”

“I play homage to some classic books in these stories with hopefully some comedic results,” Colby said.
The book is well-written, funny and moves along with lots of dialogue.

Colby has lived in South Etobicoke for 15 years and is father to 11-year-old twins who helps to coach their baseball and flag football teams.

He wrote a national best seller with NHL hockey dad Karl Subban in 2107, “How We Did It: The Subban Plan for Success in Hockey, School and Life.” Karl also raised his kids in Rexdale and many interviews were conducted at Maple Leaf House on Lake Shore Blvd. W., at First Street.

Death in Etobicoke was originally published in 2019 as Tales from the North Shore. The third instalment of the “Death in Etobicoke” trilogy has been revised for this edition.

The work has been getting some good comments before its release date.

“It’s a treat to read this book… The Thunder Bay stories are laugh out loud funny,” said Lisa Laco, of CBC Thunder Bay.

“My friend and I are reading ‘Death in Etobicoke’ to each other, laughing our heads off. Actual tears. Best thing I have read in ages …” said Alexandra Gillespie, English Professor and Principal, University of Toronto Mississauga.

“Shades of Stephen King, an undercurrent of Flannery O’Connor, wrapped in the best of Ray Bradbury, Scott Colby’s Death in Etobicoke takes us on a riveting romp through life’s irreversible moments,” wrote Jerry Levitan, an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer and internationally acclaimed author.

“Death in Etobicoke is an eclectic collection of humorous stories, which is clearly valued by intelligent readers with a keen sense of humour,” said Charles Wilkins, author of international bestsellers, Paddle to the Amazon and After the Applause as well as The Circus at the Edge of the Earth, Walk to New York and In the Land of Long Fingernails.

 

 

It is no surprise that Marlene Smith is the coordinator of the Canadian Red Cross Etobicoke Meals on Wheels program since her grandfather was a volunteer driver for 30-years.

Smith grew up linked to the program, volunteered and moved up becoming  a person in charge.

It’s her job to ensure their roughly 80 volunteer drivers from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. assemble their lunches to take to about 200 clients, who include the elderly, convalescent, those with disabilities or facing challenges.

The drivers cover 15 delivery routes in Etobicoke to take food to those in need. Sometimes the volunteers may be the only people the seniors see all day.

“Since the pandemic the need for food has grown by 30 per cent for us,” Smith said. “All the food is paid for and we have suppliers, caterers and volunteers who package the food.”

The hot meals contain soup, an entrée, salad, bread and desert that can include a cup cake or custard.  Special diets and needs can be met with meals that are low fat, low cholesterol, minced, pureed and suitable for diabetics or culturally appropriate.

“We lost many of our long-time volunteers due to the pandemic,” she said. “We have a whole group of mostly younger people now.”

Smith said the program is in need of volunteer drivers to take the lunches out to those in need.

A driver must have a vehicle and they are usually retirees, those who do shift work and some police officers or firefighters trying to earn volunteer hours.

They deliver from five to 13 hot or frozen meals, special diets or culturally appropriate lunches each daily and are paid for mileage.

The good-natured volunteers provide a safety check ensuring clients families that they are safe in their homes and giving a brief friendly visit at the same time.

The program charges a small fee to residents to help them live independently.

Long-time driver Adrian Smith has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer for 27 years.

“I love the people and the job,” Smith says. “Sometimes we are the only ones the clients would seek for the entire day. We check up on them to make sure they are fine.”

The Canadian Red Cross in Ontario offers an extensive network of programs and services that actively reach out and serve local communities throughout the province.

The Meals on Wheels program has been around since the 1970s and has grown over time.

If you would like to be a volunteer driver or donate please call 416-243-0003 ext 1 or fill out a form at www.redcross.ca.

 

Dixie Outlet Mall may soon be joining Cloverdale Mall and Sherway Gardens in having condo towers built on some of its parking and surrounding areas.

A proposal has been submitted to the City of Mississauga for a 25, 22, 18, 12 and 9-storey mixed-use residential, retail and park space constructed along the northwest of Dixie Outlet Mall, south of the Queen Elizabeth Way and west of Dixie Road.

The City of Mississauga’s Planning and Building Department is conducting a land use review of the Dixie Outlet Mall site to help guide redevelopment.

Dubbed ‘Plan Dixie’, the developers filed a re-zoning application with the City in December 2022 for the property at 1250 South Service Rd.

The owner is proposing to demolish a portion of the mall and build five residential apartments in the northwest portion of the site. The site where the grocery store is located is owned by Choice Properties and no application has been made to the City, according to documents filed.

The City is required to process a development application and within certain timelines. The City will work with the property owners in coordinating the policy and the development application reviews, according to the Building Department.

“Given recent economic and consumer behaviour changes, including a rise in e-commerce and the global COVID-19 pandemic, the role and nature of retail is changing and evolving,” Glen Schnarr & Associates Inc. wrote in the re-development application submitted for the owner Sheridan Retail Inc.

The development is being designed by Giannone Petricone Associates for Slate Asset Management and Choice REIT.

“Retail-based landowners are re-evaluating lands and identifying potential redevelopment opportunities,” Schnarr said.

This is expected to be the first phase of development for the Dixie Outlet Mall. A long-term vision for the 35.5 acre Mall site is for 16 new residential buildings wrapping around the existing mall with heights ranging from 11 to 29 storeys, according to the application.

The first phase of the project is two 15-storey residential buildings with a total of 620 units and 713 shared parking spaces, some in an underground garage.

The first building would have 249 units and the second would have 371 units. The breakdown proposed is 221 one-bedroom units, 369 two-bedroom units, and 30 three-bedroom units.

Over 1,200 new residential units are proposed, along with 3.5 acres of parkland and public trails. In total, the development parcel consists of 7.1 acres of the mall property.