A young woman waiting for an Etobicoke bus is fighting for her life in hospital after being set on fire in a bizarre attack at the Kipling subway station.

Some quick-thinking TTC users nearby saw the strange incident and rushed to help the woman, who is described as being in her 20s’, who suffered from life threatening or life-altering injuries.

Toronto police say they were called to the Kipling Avenue and Dundas Street West area around 12:30 p.m. on Friday for reports of a woman assaulted.

Police said a man poured a liquid substance on the woman and ignited it, leaving her with life-altering injuries. The woman is being treated at Sunnybrook Hospital.

The woman is reported to have suffered third degree burns.

Officers believe the attack was random in nature and the couple may have known each other.

A 35-year-old man was arrested by police. It is unknown at this time what charges he faces.

“It is cause for concern, especially as we’ve stated this is a random attack,” said a police spokesman.

TTC boss Rick Leary says the agency is “shocked by today’s attack at Kipling Station.”

“I know incidents like this are concerning for our customers — and I share that concern,” Leary said in a statement. “We move hundreds of millions of customers every year without incident, but we cannot and do not take that for granted.”

He said the TTC has several safety measures in place including special constables who patrol the system, cameras and emergency alarms in all stations and vehicles as well as the SafeTTC app to report suspicious incidents.

The incident follows last April’s shooting of an international student outside Sherbourne subway station and the pushing of a woman on the tracks at a subway platform at the Bloor-Yonge station. She barely escaped getting hit by a train.

Junko Sato shows some her fast-selling summertime snacks.

Sato says the iconic hot dog and bun with cheese is making a comeback along with the healthy ginger dates scone.

Sato, who is the wife of Tatsu’s Bread Master Baker, Tatsunobu Sato , says the reasonably-priced snacks are popular with Humber College and area students. The sprawling campus is directly across the street.

“The students love them,” Sato says. “It is a quick snack that they can afford.”

The hot dog and bun sells for $3.95 and are available at Tatsu’s Bread, 3180 Lake Shore Blvd. W., or phone 416-253-5557.

The family-owned bakery has been an area staple for freshly baked bread for more than 16 years.

 

 

 

More than 75 seniors and volunteers took part in an enjoyable outing on June 14 to view the latest Downton Abbey: A New Era blockbuster.

The smiling seniors are part of a Storefront Humber Adult Day and LAMP Community Health Centre programs.

Some in the group were dressed in hats and gowns as they arrived at the Cineplex Cinemas Queensway.

“They are all excited and are having a great time,” said Bruce Buchanan, of Storefront Humber. “It has been a long time indoors and they look forward to this event.”

Organizers also thanked the TTC Wheel -Trans for making the viewing possible.

A screening of Andrew Rieu’s Happy Days Are Here Again is planned for August.

Many Blacks in South Etobicoke welcome Toronto Police Chief James Ramer’s long-awaited apology to the Black and Brown-skinned communities as others took his words with a grain of salt.

Ramer in an emotional apology on June 15 said his officers have to do better in their treatment of non-white residents, who are often over-represented in the justice system.

The apology stems from statistics gathered in 949 use-of-force incidents and 7,114 strip searches conducted in 2020. The analysis was compiled by the force’s Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights Unit, data experts and a 12-member community panel.

The study found that Black, Indigenous and racialized people are over-represented in both use-of-force incidents and strip searches.

It revealed that Blacks are 2.2 times more likely to have an interaction with police officers and are 1.6 times more likely to have force used on them during the interaction.

The study said strip search rates varied throughout the year and dropped significantly following changes to the Search of Persons policy in October 2020, resulting in a significant decline in strip searches.

“There were differences by race in strip search rates with Black, Indigenous and White people over-represented relative to their presence in arrests,” according to police.

“The results have confirmed what, for many decades, racialized communities – particularly the Black and Indigenous communities — have been telling us; that they are disproportionately over-policed,” according to the Chief.

“As an organization, we have not done enough to ensure that every person in our City receives fair and unbiased policing,” Ramer told a news conference. “On behalf of the Service, I am sorry and I apologize unreservedly. The release of this data will cause pain for many. “

Ramer said the force has identified 38 actions to address the use-of-force and strip search issues.

But not everyone accepted Ramer’s apology.

Beverly Bain, a professor at the University of Toronto and a member of the No Pride in Policing Coalition, said members of the Black community have been complaining and protesting police brutality and killings for decades on the streets of Toronto.

“This has nothing to with the Black community. In fact, the Black community never asked for an apology. Neither did I think that you were apologizing to the Black community. You were apologizing to your rank and file,” Bain told the Chief and his top brass.

Over the years there have been many protests, some even violent, on the shooting by Toronto Police officers of young unarmed Blacks.

 

It was a weekend of festival, flea markets and garage sales across the community.

The residents of Alderwood held a successful neighbourhood street garage sale that involved dozens of residents.

There were a number of student groups raising funds to help various charities, including some girls collecting to help kids in Ukraine.

 

 

 

New Toronto residents can feel a bit safer as more Toronto Police officers are being deployed to the area.

More officers are hitting the ground in New Toronto and 12 other areas in the city as the force beefs up its Neighbourhood Community Officers (NCO) program.

Additional officers are also being added to help make residents safer in South Parkdale, in 14 Division, Elms-Old Rexdale, in 23 Division, Rockcliffe-Smythe in 12 Division and York-University Heights in the 31 Division area, according to police.

The announcement was made by Chief James Ramer and Mayor John Tory at a recent Open House.

Ramer said officers will be redeployed to ‘help increase the number of officers working in and with communities.’ The item was a priority in the Toronto Police Service’s 2022 Budget.

He said the TPS conducted comprehensive analyses, including of crime and demographics, to determine the neighbourhoods for expansion of the program, resulting in 13 new neighbourhoods and 52 new NCOs.

“By redeploying our resources to accomplish this expansion, we are providing policing services that our residents want, while working to keep neighbourhoods across Toronto safe,” the Chief said.

The NCOs are visible and accessible to the public, walking through their neighbourhoods, meeting residents and engaging in collaborative problem solving, he said.

Tory told 31 Division that the NCO program has proven to work and residents like it.

“When we have a program that works, that the community likes and wants, we listen and look to ensure that not only can it continue but that we can expand it as well,” the Mayor said.,

He said the NCO work to make communities safer and build public trust and confidence in the Service.

“Their goals as part of this program will be to reduce crime, build relationships, gain insights into community needs, and improve insights into local crime,” he said.

Other communities to receive additional police officers include: Englemount-Lawrence, Clanton Park, Dorset Park, Englinton East, Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn, Harbourfont-City Place, Taylor-Massey and Danforth.

More information on the NCO program can be found on the Toronto Police website.

 

Police have stepped up a manhunt for several suspects who are shooting paintballs from a vehicle at innocent residents in New Toronto.

Detectives from 22 Division said between June 3 and June 6 there were several reported incidents of suspects shooting paintballs from a vehicle at citizens in the Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Eighth Street area.

Officers said the suspect vehicles were identified as white and black SUVs. The vehicles and the occupants fled the area in an unknown direction.

It is unknown how many people were shot at by the hooligans. The paintballs are packed with dye-filled gelatins that break on impact.

Police did not say if anyone was injured from the incidents.

Investigators are appealing for any witnesses, motorists with dash cam footage to come forward and contact police.

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.

 

 

 

Lakeshore Village came alive for the first time in two years as residents greeted each other with smiles, cheers, high-fives and to the sound of music.

Thousands of residents, described by some as a record crowd, walked, cycled or roller boarded to Lakeshore Village on June 11 as the community celebrated its annual and popular grill cheese challenge.

Many families and area residents packed the Village, which includes Lake Shore Blvd., from Second Street to Islington Ave., which was shut to traffic as vendors, cooks, pets, bands and others took over the street.

The Challenge was organized by the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA), whose members did a great job in organizing the massive street event, which was sponsored by Furlani, in support of Women’s Habitat.

Organizers said the challenge was a success and helped many small area businesses which have been suffering.

“This is great for the community after two years of stuck indoors,” says Patricia Delfin of The Clock Factory. “It is fantastic to catch up with people who we haven’t seen for a long time.”

A table outside her store was busy with onlookers as some supporters headed for deals inside the long-time family-owned store.

Merchants were all smiles, mostly from bustling sales at the many booths in front of their stores. The folks from Delicia Bakery were busy inside an elaborate tent as they sold their cakes and other products.

Aside from the lengthy lineups waiting for grilled cheese sandwiches, there was a shortcoming of foods available to those of diverse cultures, of which grill cheese is not their first selection of food.

Keith Pope, of Vinyl Music Emporium and Cafe, like most others, enjoyed the seven bands who performed on a massive stage in the Lake Shore and Islington Ave. intersection. The sound was clean and clear.

“People liked the music and they had a great time,” Pope says. “There were a number of bands from the area that performed to an appreciative crowd.”

He said residents welcomed the chance to sit in the sunshine and listen to tunes after two years of being at home due to the virus.

The bands included: George Westerholm and the Wild Wildcats, The James Clark Institute, The Stephen Stanley Band, The Sandra Bouza Band, Reggadiction, Luke and the Apostles and Jersey Nights.

I liked the island beats of Reggadiction, which had the crowd thrilled.

Ray, of Kebab House, said it was nice to have more people in the area to help support the small businesses.

“Many people seemed like they were having a great time,” he says. “It was nice to see so many people in the area.”

 

 

 

 

As witnessed by Christina Murie

Vigilant residents at the popular Grill Cheese Challenge managed to stop a man behind the wheels of an expensive Hummer who was driving behind crowd control barriers.

The driver was arrested by Toronto Police around 4:45 p.m. as he allegedly drove a black Hummer from the Shell gas station, at Third Street east along Lake Shore Blvd. W., towards Royal York Road, behind road closure barriers helping to control crowds attending the annual challenge.

The driver was followed by those in attendance, who called police on their mobile phones.

The man managed to stop around Second Street, and Lake Shore Blvd. W., which was closed to traffic, witnesses say.

“The street was crowded with families,” said witness Christina Murie. “Adults and children jumped out of way and shouted. There was some near misses.”

“A crowd of citizens determined to stop the driver followed him to Second Street where there were many youngsters and parents. Thank goodness no one was hurt,” Murie said.

“When the driver got to the barricade he stepped out of the car and citizens took away his keys”

“They stood on the barricade and refused to move or let the driver leave,” she witnessed. “We all waited for police.”

Murie said the suspect fell twice, once on the barricade and once on the ground.

The suspect was taken away by police and his expensive Hummer towed.

Residents have been on high  alert since the deaths of three Mimico residents by a man who was banned from driving in Canada. The driver was involved in another traffic altercation in New Toronto before being allowed to leave causing a deadly crash.

 

Toronto Police members have joined with fellow emergency responders to deliver essential humanitarian supplies to war-torn Ukraine.
The Service has partnered with Toronto Fire and Toronto Paramedic Services to collect goods from their members and also source any overstocked items that may be helpful.
A round of collections was delivered to Second Front Ukraine Foundation in May that was collected through donations from members to drop boxes within their services.
“Simultaneously, we also looked internally at our corporate structures for surplus items that we could provide as a donation as part of the humanitarian relief effort,” said Deputy Chief Myron Demkiw, of the lifesaving gear that includes everything from clothing to medical supplies.
Demkiw said the collection effort is ongoing and has come out of a great willingness to help by Service members.
“We have taken a look at the list of things we have collected and making sure it is what is essentially needed,” he noted. “The membership has been incredibly engaging and looking for opportunities to contribute in a meaningful way.”
Second Front sorts and ships the supplies to Ukraine.