Junction Triangle

Photo is from the City of Toronto Archives.

City of Toronto Archives Description Display

Archival citation Subseries 32, Item 451

Title Children for Adoption - Roy Taylor, 377 Symington Avenue

Date(s) of creation of record(s) June 6, 1916

Physical description of record(s) 1 photonegative : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm

Form of material Photographs

Forms part of Fonds 200; Former City of Toronto fonds

Series 372; Dept. of Public Works photographs

Subseries 32; Health Department photographs

A troubling series of events occurred last night in our neighbourhood: The Beer Store on Symington Ave. was robbed, which led to a police chase, an officer being shot (grazed on the head) and a police car being hit by a train at the Wallace Ave. crossing.

Here are some details from the Toronto Police news release:

Police officer shot during robbery investigation,
Two men face a total of 26 charges, shotgun seized

Broadcast time: 11:12
Sunday, January 25, 2009

Hold Up Squad
416−808−7350

On Saturday, January 24, 2009, just after 7:30 p.m., police responded to an armed robbery call at The Beer Store, 323 Symington Avenue.

It is alleged that:

• police responded and located two suspects in the area of Wallace Avenue,
• as police approached, one of the suspects began to shoot at the officers, and gunfire was exchanged,
• one officer was struck in the forehead by a shotgun pellet.

The officer was taken to hospital with minor injuries. He was treated and released.

Two suspects were arrested shortly thereafter.

Jeron Powell, 32, of Toronto, is charged with:

1. Five counts of Robbery While Armed with a Firearm,
2. two counts of Disguise with Intent,
3. Conspiracy to Commit and Indictable Offence,
4. three counts of Attempted Murder While Using a Firearm,
5. two counts of Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized,
6. Unauthorized Presence of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle,
7. Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order,
8. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (under),
9. Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition.

Craig Buckle, 29, of Toronto, is charged with:

1. Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence,
2. Three counts of Robbery While Armed with a Firearm,
3. Disguise with Intent,
4. Possession of a Firearm with Ammunition,
5. Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized,
6. Unauthorized Presence of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle,
7. Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order.

Both accused are scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall, on Sunday, January 25, 2009, room 101, 1 p.m.

The Toronto Police Service would like to thank the public for their support and concern during this investigation. The Service would also like to thank officers from 11, 12, and 13 Divisions, the Gun and Gang Task Force, TAVIS, ETF, PDS, the Hold Up Squad, as well as the York Regional Police Air Support, for their assistance.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416−808−1100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).

Constable Wendy Drummond, Public Information, for Detective Peter Hans, Hold Up Squad

Jack Fava has been in touch with Adam Giambrone's office, and they are working along with Tony Ruprecht and Mario Silva to organize a community safety meeting as a followup to this incident.

We will post more information here as it comes in.

Symington Ave., looking south towards Bloor St., February 2, 2008.

Photo by Vic Gedris.

Snowy Symington Ave.: February 2, 2008.

Today we received an email from a Symington Ave. resident who is looking for a solution to on-street parking problems caused by snow piles on the road. Please read the email below, as well as the response from Councillor Giambrone's office with some helpful suggestions and links.

What are your own experiences and opinions on snow removal issues in our neighbourhood? Feel free to discuss it here.

Hi,

I am a resident of the South Junction Triangle and Ward 18, and I'm looking for a workable solution to the winter parking problem in the area. I park on the street, primarily on Symington Avenue, and during the winter months snow piles (a) cause logistical issues (it is difficult to enter and exit spots, and vehicles are damaged by large ice banks); and (b) run a safety risk (vehicles are parked far from the curb making it difficult to drive down narrow streets). In fact, a corner of my front bumper has been torn off as a result of parking between large piles of ice & snow on my street.

In addition to any solutions you can offer, I am interested in the following:

1. Is it possible to periodically change the side of the street for permit parking, and to have a snow cleaner remove snow and ice from the parking areas?
2. Will individuals actually be ticketed for shoveling snow onto the road and in between cars (understanding that the sidewalk is considered "public property")?
3. Can an awareness campaign be started, including flyers and other promotional material, and distributed throughout the area to increase awareness about where snow should go? Both from a legal and practical perspective (i.e. sidewalks can legally be shoveled into the street but it makes parking and driving very difficult).

In particular, I would like to understand why ticketing is not more prominent for those homes that repeatedly shovel their personal property (e.g. private driveways and walk ways) into the road and in between cars. Can this not be better enforced?

Thanks in advance for your time.

(Name deleted)
Home Owner – Symington Avenue

The following response from Amanda O'Brien at Councillor Adam Giambrone's office came shortly after:

The TTC is reporting that on November 23 2008 the following service changes will take place on the bus routes that service our neighbourhood:

168 Symington

New service will be operated north of St Clair Avenue during the late evening, every day, and in the early mornings on Sundays and holidays on the 168 Symington (Dundas West Stn–Rogers Rd & Weston Rd) branch. The new service will operate every 12 minutes in the late evenings and every 20 minutes in the early morning on Sundays and holidays. The new service will replace the 168A Symington (Dundas West Stn–St Clair) branch. With this change, service will now operate until approximately 1:00 a.m., every day, between Dundas West Station and Rogers Road & Weston Road.

Service will be increased in the morning peak period, from Monday to Friday. The service will be improved from every 5 minutes 30 seconds to every 5 minutes. Service will be increased in the early evening on Sundays and holidays. Service will be improved from every 20 minutes to every 12 minutes.

26 Dupont

New late evening service will be operated on Sundays and holidays. Service will operate every 30 minutes. With this change, service will now operate until approximately 1:00 a.m., every day.

Service will be increased during the late evening from Monday to Saturday, and during the early evening on Sundays and holidays. Service will be improved from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes.

New bike rack service will be provided on this route.

Symington Underpass Murals

Mike Foderick, Executive Assistant to City Councillor Cesar Palacio, sent an email with photos of the new murals painted on the walls of the Symington Ave. railway underpass, just north of Dupont St. They will also be installing another mural on Dufferin St. You can read his email below, and view the attached sketch of the Dufferin St. mural.

The addition of murals in the railway underpasses around our neighbourhood is really perking up the streetscape. The Dupont and Dundas underpass murals went in several years ago (they could use a touch-up now), and we also have new murals on Bloor St. The dead-end of Rankin Ave. by Erwin Krickhan Park will also be getting a mural soon.

Want to get involved with other similar projects? Contact us to get involved with the Community Initiatives and Beautification committee.

New murals on the walls of the Symington Ave. railway underpass, just north of Dupont St.

Photos courtesy of City Councillor Cesar Palacio's office.

August 11, 2008.

New murals on the walls of the Symington Ave. railway underpass, just north of Dupont St.

Photos courtesy of City Councillor Cesar Palacio's office.

August 11, 2008.

Saturday's National Post had an article by Leah Sandals, Why Lansdowne is on the up and up.

The article mainly focuses on the local art scene that is migrating to our neighbourhood, particularly from Queen St. West. Three major art projects are mentioned:

1. Georgia Scherman Projects at 300 Campbell Ave.
2. Public Art, by Dyan Marie and Richard Mongiat
3. Toronto Free Gallery at 1277 Bloor St. W.

As the article says, "Grab a coffee at local fave Yasi's Place and come along."

You can view the article online at the National Post Website, or view a PDF of the article here.

Thanks to Joan for bringing this article to our attention!

According to this CP Rail Press Release, there are railway safety campaigns and enforcement blitzes happening this week. This includes the following happening right in our neighbourhood:

• April 30 - Crossing Education Blitz Osler St crossing, near Cariboo.
• May 1 - Crossing Education Blitz Symington Rd north of Dupont St.

Please be careful around the railway tracks, but also keep in mind that this week they will be cracking down on trespassing and unsafe or illegal crossings. More info is in the CP Rail Press Release.