DAILY UPDATES

North Toronto Daily Updates: January–February 2020

Garbage pickup to continue as tentative deal reached

It looks like garbage will continue to be collected and other public services provided east of Yonge Street for at least another week.

Negotiators for the city and union announced late yesterday a tentative deal had been reached to avert a work stoppage. It still has to be ratified by the union members next week.

See more information in the full news story.

Will all of us get garbage pickup (and other services) next week?

Garbage, recycling and green bin pickup are being carried out as scheduled in Toronto communities east of Yonge Street today. But it could be the last pickup for a while if city-union negotiations don’t result in a deal before before midnight tonight.

A strike would mean losing several other public services in our neighbourhoods too. Read the latest news on the possible strike in Streeter.

Police investigating yesterday’s Bridle Path shooting

Two children were in a car shot up in an incident in the Bridle Path area, police say. No one was injured by the shooting that happened about 2:45 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Some have speculated the shooting was sparked by road rage, though police are not confirming this. Read the story so far in Streeter news.

Midtown subway service down tomorrow

Subway service is to be suspended on Line 1 line between St. Clair and Sheppard-Yonge stations on Sunday, Feb. 23. The shutdown is needed for work on the tracks, the TCC says.

Shuttle buses will be operating on the part Yonge Street usually traversed by the closed line. All stations will remain open for fare sales and access to surface routes, although the Old York Mills Road entrance at York Mills station and will be closed and the automated entrances at Ranleigh Avenue and Bedford Park Avenue at Lawrence station will be closed.

See the TTC online for more information.

Toronto-St. Paul’s MPP calls for Ford to support Eglinton businesses

Jill Andrew is asking the provincial government for a plan to support local business owners suffering during the building of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line. The call came after another delay in the construction, ongoing since 2011, was announced.

“Liberals and Conservatives have bungled the Eglinton Crosstown project so badly that it’s being sidetracked again,” said the NDP MPP for Toronto-St. Paul’s in s press release. “Businesses in vibrant communities like Little Jamaica, Yonge and Eglinton, and Dufferin and Eglinton, right here in my riding of Toronto-St. Paul’s, are already paying the price, and they simply can’t afford to keep hanging on by a thread, wracked with debt and stress, for two more years.”

Andrew said she is urging the Doug Ford government to produce a plan to support business owners who are struggling until the Crosstown construction is completed.

Why this backyard rink draws neighbourhood kids and adults

Those who play hockey on Sven Walker’s backyard rink have not had to worry about the fluctuating weather so far this winter. He has installed a refrigeration system keeps the ice solid even when the temperature rises towards melting temperatures.

No wonder kids and adults have been flocking to the North Leaside yard for regularly scheduled shinny. See the whole story and pictures in Leaside news.

Winterlicious at 25 midtown eateries

Winterlicious is well underway with 200 restaurants presenting affordable, fixed price menus. Midtown Toronto has about 25 of them going strong — including at North Toronto, Forest Hill and Leaside locations. Here are the local places to call for reservations before the annual two-week food experience is over.

Coronavirus victims at home

The coronavirus victim who was being kept in isolation at Sunnybrook Hospital is now at home with his wife, who also tested positive for the virus.

So far there have been only two confirmed cases of the virus in the city, said Dr. Eileen de Villa, medical officer of health for Toronto Public Health in a release today.

“Both of these people are recovering well at home in isolation and Toronto Public Health staff continue to connect with them directly to monitor their symptoms and ensure that they remain isolated at home,” she said. “I want to remind residents that at this time the risk to our community remains low.”

Coronavirus victim in isolation at Sunnybrook

Canada’s first coronavirus case is in stable condition and is being kept in isolation in a negative pressure room at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, according to medical authorities. The man’s wife, who also tested positive for the virus, is in isolation at home. Their home address has not be released. See the story in North Toronto’s news on Streeter.

Time for a nap at Yonge and Eglinton

A business that opened recently at the Yonge Eglinton Centre has beds ready and waiting for your afternoon nap. Nap It Up offers dozes from 25 to 85 minutes for fees from $10 to $35. Great for the yawning office worker, tired shopper or student who’s been up all night.

See the full story of how and why Mehzabeen and Oscar Rahman started Canada’s first sleep studio.

Giulia Matthews
Giulia Matthews homicide victim: police.

Boy arrested after dead woman identified, called a homicide

A boy has been charged with second-degree murder after police identified a woman found dead three days ago and deemed her death Toronto’s fifth homicide of the year.

The body of Giulia Matthews, 54, was found at an address near St. Clair Avenue West and Atlas Avenue during a well-being check at the home by police.

The coroner attended at the site and called the death suspicious. An autopsy was conducted and resulted in the death being called a homicide.

The accused cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Time to make your Winterlicious reservations

Reservations are open for the two weeks of Winterlicious that Toronto diners look forward to every year. Nearly every neighbourhood in the city has local dining rooms, bars and bistros taking part this year, offering fine foods from economical, fixed priced menus.

Starting today, reservations can be made online or by phone for the food extravaganza that runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 13.
Eateries are presenting three-course prix fixe lunch menus in their choice of $23, $28 or $33 categories and dinner menus priced at $33, $43 or $53.

Watch for our guide to Winterlicious dining in North Toronto.

Northern’s flag at half mast for girl lost in Iranian tragedy

Northern Secondary School’s community is mourning the loss of Grade 10 student Maya Zibaie. The 15-year-old girl died when Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 was shot down in Iran on Jan. 8.

Zibaie was known as an ambitious girl who also helped her friends with their schoolwork, according to Northern principal Adam Marshall. See more in the full story on Streeter.

North Toronto relatively unscathed by crime

Shootings may have increased dramatically in the city last year, but they are still relatively rare in North Toronto, judging by year-end data from the police. And while shootings and shooting victims are up across Toronto, the number of fatalities and homicides is actually down. See the full story.

Photo radar installed on local streets

Fifty speed enforcement cameras are ready to take your picture if you’re driving too fast on streets across Toronto — especially near schools or parks where kids play. Drivers have already started getting warnings in the mail. Stiff fines are to follow.

See the main article to find out more about this, including where the cameras have been set up in North Toronto neighbourhoods.

Police investigating pedestrian struck by vehicle

A pedestrian is in serious, but not life-threatening, condition after being struck by a vehicle near the Bayview-Eglinton Avenue East intersection late Saturday night.

For the full story see Streeter news.