DAILY UPDATES

Leaside Daily Updates: September–October 2020

COVID-19 outbreak at Sunnybrook

Five in-patients in one care unit at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre have tested positive for COVID-19, the hospital declared today. This meets the definition of an outbreak set by public health.

Here’s what we know about it.

Leaside’s ‘The Amazing’ Randi dead at 92

He became famous around the world as a magician, writer and paranormal investigator, but it’s often forgotten that James “The Amazing” Randi was born and raised in North Toronto and Leaside (on Rumsey Road here actually).

He died in Florida yesterday. We will have an obituary and recollection of his 2014 interview with Streeter shortly. (Update: See it here.)

Wynne stepping down as MPP after this term

Former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne has told her Don Valley West riding association she will not will not seek re-election in the next provincial election, slated for October 2022.

The news was confirmed by Wynne in interviews with media yesterday and today.

Wynne was reported as saying she discussed the decision with her family and felt it was time to give someone else a chance to run in the riding.

The Liberal MPP became the province’s first female and openly gay premier in 2012 when Premier Dalton McGuinty resigned. Her party won the 2014 election, extending her premiership to 2018 when the Liberals lost the election. She stepped down then as Liberal leader but has continued as MPP for Don Valley West.

Arrest was made in child pornography investigation

A 71-year-old man was arrested in late September after the police’s child exploitation section searched a property near Bayview Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto police reported today.

Michael Allan of Toronto was charged with possessing and accessing child pornography, police say. He was to appear in court Sept. 30.

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COVID germLeaside among communities hit by latest COVID wave

A month ago it looked like we were almost free of the coronavirus. But recent figures from the city’s interactive map show Leaside and Bennington have been newly infected in the recent upsurge.

However, Thorncliffe Park has reported no new cases in the past 21 days . Get the full picture.

Secondhand Sunday on today

Today’s the day you can give away or get reusable items — to or from your neighbours. It’s Secondhand Sunday, a city-supported event that runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Here’s more about it.

Research Road thumbnail18-year-old charged with Leaside murder

An 18-year-old male has been arrested for the shooting death of a 20-year-old near Leonard Linton Park three months ago. Police reported this morning Maviya Tahir of Toronto has been charged with first-degree murder.

The alleged murder victim was one of two men, both 20, shot while sitting in a vehicle in Leaside’s east end. Get the whole story.

 

UPDATE: Arrest in case of syringes left at school

A 44-year-old man has been charged with mischief following the investigation of a package of syringes and other drug paraphernalia left by a midtown school at Eglinton Avenue East and Mt. Pleasant Road reported on Sept. 22.

Read the latest news.

climate change thumbnailAre you a champion for climate action in the neighbourhood?

Could you help educate and collaborate with local residents to develop climate action projects reflecting the needs and values of your Leaside-area neighbourhood?

If so, the city wants you. To become a Neighbourhood Climate Action Champion.

Being a local champion will take about four or five hours a month and it won’t pay much — a $500 honorarium. But you’ll get free training and the satisfaction of helping fight climate change. Read all about it.

police photo syringes suspectSyringes left at Eglinton Ave. East school

Police have reported a package of syringes and other drug paraphernalia was dropped off this morning near Eglinton Junior Public School at Eglinton Avenue East and Mt. Pleasant Road.

Yes, just a few doors down from the Roehampton Residence for the homeless on Mt. Pleasant, which some local people have charged with drug materials being found in the area, though police have drawn no connection with this incident.

Police have released an image of a man on a bicycle seen leaving the area. Here’s what we know so far.

Chinatown StrollTO thumbBe a tourist in our own communities

How well do you know the Mount Pleasant East neighbourhood? A walking tour of the area is part of Toronto’s StrollTO program, announced today. Self-guided tours are presented in all 25 wards, with self-guided tours pointing out culturally and historically significant local sites.

It’s part of an overall ShowLoveTO initiative to encourage residents to discover shops, stops, places and spaces on local streets, the city says. Get the whole story and links to local tours.

BigArtTO thumbnailBigArtTO scheduled for local wards

The Leaside Memorial Gardens Arena is one of the sites to be used as a canvas for art projection in Toronto’s just-announced BigArtTO initiative.

BigArtTO features free access to more than 200 hours of temporary public artworks created by Toronto artists, projected and illuminated on buildings and landmarks across Toronto’s 25 wards.

Get the schedule and see the full story.

SEE DAILY UPDATES FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES:
Beaches-LeslievilleCentral TorontoDon ValleyForest HillNorth TorontoRiverdale-East York

Thorncliffe busts disrupting gangs, police say

Eleven people have been arrested on 95 charges related to guns, drugs and conspiracy to murder. The arrests came on Sept. 3 after the Gun and Gang Task Force and other police teams investigated shooting incidents in the Thorncliffe Park area from late 2019 through 2020, police reported today.

The busts significantly disrupt gun and gang activity that has been jeopardizing community safety in Thorncliffe  and other parts of the city, police said.

Get the full story in Streeter news.