In the News

Our neighbourhood in the news

Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost

As you probably already know and have even possibly experienced in one way or another, Campbell Park was used as a temporary garbage dump during the recent City of Toronto workers strike.

The "garbage strike", as it was often referred to, lasted for just over one month, and our local rink at Campbell Park was used as a temporary dump site for approximately two weeks starting around July 16th. A group of residents calling themselves Friends of Campbell Park protested the use of Campbell Park as a dump.

Over the August long weekend, City Staff finally hauled the garbage away and started to clean up the rink. However, people are reporting that the site is still contaminated with the sticky leftovers of two weeks worth of garbage runoff.

Since I was away and unable to truly experience the effects of this strike on Campbell Park myself, I will leave it up to these media / blog / photo links to tell the story. If you have any of your own stories or comments about how this strike affected our neighbourhood, please feel free to share them in the comments below.

Media / Blog Links:

A few more photo links on Flickr:

We Are In 11 Division

Despite a series of inaccurate maps by the Globe and Mail I wanted to reassure people that we in fact live in 11 Division in terms of Policing.

The Fixer: Dangerous conditions on Dupont St.

Jack Lakey, writer of the Toronto Star's "Fixer" column reported today on a dangerous pair of sewer grates on Dupont St., north side between Edwin Ave. and Osler Ave. (map).

"Pietro Taleporos emailed us photos of a sunken storm-sewer grate on the north side of Dupont, just west of Edwin Ave., with a utility cover next to it that caught the wheel of his 14-year-old son's bicycle and sent him sprawling."

Also, according to the article, "a small cone and a much larger, orange-and-black traffic pylon were placed over the rough patch", although this was definitely not the case when I rode by at about 8:40 this morning.

You can view the original article on The Star's website here.

This is definitely a dangerous situation for any cyclist who does not see this chewed up section of road in time to ride around it. Let's hope the City fixes this soon.

This section of Dupont St., between Dundas and Lansdowne, is also scheduled to have bicycle lanes installed, possibly sometime this summer. This will connect to the Annette St. bike lanes, and the West Toronto Rail Path. It will be even more critical to have this fixed before then, as the bicycle traffic will likely increase, while cyclists will be directed to ride right through the roughed-up curbside pavement.

A version of this article has been cross-posted to I Bike T.O.

Perth Ave. house in the news

In today's National Post, Brenda McMullen writes about a house for sale on Perth Ave. that is "bursting with promise and potential".

Screenshot from National Post article

You can read the entire article on the National Post website.

Toronto Star Neighbourhood Map, v2.0

Toronto Star Neighbourhood Map, v2.0Toronto Star Neighbourhood Map, v2.0

On Sunday, The Toronto Star published an article about Toronto's neighbourhood names, and released an updated version of their online neighbourhood map.

One thing you may quickly notice on their map is that our neighbourhood is left out. We're still an unlabeled grey area sandwiched between The Junction and High Park on the west, Roncesvalles and Parkdale to the south, Wallace-Emerson and Brockton Village to the east, and Carleton Village to the north.

One other oddity is that The Star uses a Google map as a data source, and you can see in the underlying Google map that this neighbourhood is incorrectly labeled as "Silverthorn", which is actually a neighbourhood north of us in the Eglinton and Keele area.

The timing of this article and map is interesting, as there is already a group of local residents who are working on giving the neighbourhood a properly recognized and standardized name. Kevin Putnam was interviewed by the Toronto Star, and they started their article with the following:

Toronto Star Neighbourhood Map, v2.0

Toronto Star Neighbourhood Map, v2.0

The Toronto Star released their online Neighbourhood Map, version 2.0 on Sunday March 8, 2009.

Our neighbourhood is still unnamed according to this map, and has therefore been left with a grey background.

An updated version, posted on May 21 2009, labels the neighbourhood as Junction Triangle.

Last night's robbery, shooting, and train crash

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.

Toy Drive for Terrance Bascombe

On Saturday December 13, there was a shooting on Pelham Ave., near Osler St. and Davenport Rd. (map). 12 year-old Terrance Bascombe was hit in the leg with a bullet as he walked home with a friend. You can read more about what happened in the extensive media coverage (links down below).

Some area residents have organized a toy drive for Terrance and other children of the Pelham Park area. Here are the details:

“He’s only Twelve years old”

Residents, Politicians and Police have joined together to make this Holiday Season special for one very brave and lucky boy.

On Saturday Night December 13, 2008 Terrance Bascombe, for no apparent reason was shot in the leg as he was on his way home with his friend. Even with tough economic times, we ask that you please help and support the family, friends and neighbours deal with this very unfortunate situation.

If you wish to make a donation of toys for Terrance Bascombe and the other children in the complex, you can drop them off you at Toronto Police 12 Division by Monday, December 22, 2008. Or you can call or email the contact person below for more information.

Upon receiving the donations, residents and police will deliver the toys to Terrance and the children of Pelham Park on Monday, December 22, 2008

NOW Magazine covers the Glidden Paint cleanup

Wallace Ave. Brownfields: Looking north-east from the Wallace Ave. pedestrian bridge over the former Glidden Paint factory industrial lands.  They are currently being cleaned up of industrial contaminants.Wallace Ave. Brownfields: Looking north-east from the Wallace Ave. pedestrian bridge over the former Glidden Paint factory industrial lands. They are currently being cleaned up of industrial contaminants.

Today's edition of NOW magazine has a story about the Glidden Paint Factory cleanup on Wallace Ave next to the pedestrian bridge.

"For nine decades beginning in 1911, Glidden operated here, spilling untold amounts of solvents, chemicals with names too long to pronounce, with long-term health effects from exposure too scary to contemplate. The area, which forms part of the Junction Triangle, contains some of the most contaminated former industrial lands in the entire country."

You can read the entire article online at NOW Magazine's website.

If you would like more information about the cleanup efforts or to get involved with the Residents Association's Environment Committee, please contact us.

Sterling studio loft residents face eviction

NOW Magazine is reporting that the residents of the "studio lofts" at 221-227 Sterling Rd. are facing eviction.

The speculation at this time is that the owners of the building are trying to get it re-developed and need the tenants moved out of the way.

Please read the article for details. A PDF version is also attached, in case the link dies.

Syndicate content