Forest Hill Daily Updates: September–October 2020
Halloween in the age of COVID
It’s been one scary year already, thanks to the pandemic, notes Toronto-St. Paul’s MP Carolyn Bennett.
She urges families to celebrate Halloween within their households and follow all public health precautions to help end 2020’s COVID-caused nightmare. See her Halloween column here.
Man arrested on bridge in same area
Police aren’t saying it’s the same man, but they’ve arrested someone dressed in camouflage and a bullet-proof vest in the same area where a gunman in combat gear was previously reported. The reports in the Eglinton Avenue West and Allen Road area on Monday led to local schools being put in a “hold and secure” position.
Schools on ‘hold and secure’ after gunman spotted in area
Schools in the area of Eglinton Avenue West and Allen Road were locked up and police attended to help students leave after classes yesterday, when a man was reported in the area carrying two guns and dressed for combat.
Police have been unable to find the gunman but are keeping the investigation open, they told worried residents.
Allen Road to be closed three days
The entire length of Allen Road from Eglinton to Sheppard will shut down this weekend from Friday at 11 p.m. until Monday at 5 a.m., the city announced today.
The closure is to allow maintenance and improvements on the Allen, including bridge maintenance, guide rail repair, painting and marking, pot hole repairs, tree trimming and lighting inspection.
Alternate routes for drivers are Keele Street, Dufferin Street, Avenue Road and Bathurst Street during the closure.
Police look for person who damaged religious statue
Images have been released of a person being sought for mischief after a religious statue was vandalized on St. Clair Avenue West.
The face and hands of the statue of Mother Mary on the grounds of Holy Rosary Parish Church were damaged on Sept. 23, police say. More on this story.
Car on fire at intersection thought to be stolen
Police are investigating what is believed to be a stolen vehicle found on fire at Eglinton Avenue West and Oakwood Avenue last night shortly before midnight. Officers responding to reports of a car fire at 11:49 p.m. found a car had apparently hit a building and burst into flames in the intersection.
Firefighters were also called to the fire. No occupants of the car remained at the scene.
More public art coming in Toronto-St. Paul’s
Lots more drab areas of Toronto-St. Paul’s would benefit from an artful sprucing up, Councillor Josh Matlow said after viewing the recent work done on Bell boxes over the summer.
He and community leaders are looking at redevelopments in the area to make public art a part of them, as well as in local parks and playgrounds, he said. See the whole story.
• Beaches-Leslieville • Central Toronto • Don Valley • Leaside • North Toronto • Riverdale-East York
Forest Hill among areas 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 we’ve been newly infected in the recent upsurge.
Though not as bad as some other neighbourhoods. Worst hit in midtown have been Englemount-Lawrence and Mount Pleasant West. Get the full picture.
Arts festival moved from the streets to online
Nuit Blanche, which has presented art installations in Toronto streets over the course of one night for the past 14 years, is n0w presenting a week of virtual experiences.
Funded by the city and the Government of Ontario, Nuit Blanche Online is running Oct. 3–10 this year in five online streaming programs. Find out more in Streeter Things To Do.
Local events cancelled or moved online in city announcement
Heddington Halloween, pumpkin parades and street fests are among the midtown events seeing their live activities shut down by the city this week. Some of them though will carry on as virtual or online happenings.
The city followed public health advice in cancelling all upcoming festivals and other large in-person gatherings held at outdoor sites managed by the city or at public locations, the city said in a news release on Wednesday.
See the story in Streeter news.
One arrested, two to go for Deer Park home invasion
A 22-year-old woman has been arrested for assault and robbery two weeks after a home invasion near Avenue Road and St. Clair Avenue West — apparently only because she allegedly showed up at the victim’s workplace for another go at him.
Two males that police believe were also involved in the home invasion Sept. 4 are still at large. Police continue to investigate.
Are 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 midtown 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.
Be a tourist in our own communities
How well do you know the Casa Loma 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 scheduled for local wards
The George Brown College Casa Loma campus 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.
MP Bennett on going back to school in 2020
Toronto-St. Paul’s MP Carolyn Bennett recalls when she and her sister had their first school day in 1957. What a difference for school kids in the middle of the 2020 pandemic.
The former “Minister of Handwashing” talks about the government and local support needed by children, parents and teachers as they return to school. Read her column, “Back to school, not to normal.”
Construction to shut down lanes at St. Clair and Avenue
Expect delays at St. Clair Avenue West and Avenue Road today as construction is scheduled to close two westbound lanes, according to Toronto’s Traffic Management Centre. The work on utility maintenance is expected to take place between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Six hit by gunfire on Eglinton Avenue West
Six people sheltering from the rain in front of Spence’s Bakery in the Oakwood Village area were injured by gunfire about 2 a.m.
A black SUV with multiple occupants pulled up in front of the 24-hour West Indian bakery and shots were fired in what’s being called a “gang-related and targeted” attack. But the store and most of the victims were not targeted but innocent bystanders, police say. Get the full story.
