DAILY UPDATES

Leaside 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 in the Leaside area 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 though.

Read the full news story.

Will Leaside 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.

Midtown subway service down tomorrow

If you’re thinking of travelling by subway on Sunday, Feb. 23, you might want to consider alternative route. Subway service is to be be suspended on Line 1 between St. Clair and Sheppard-Yonge stations for the day to allow work on the tracks, the TCC says.

Shuttle buses will be operating on the stretch of Yonge Street and all stations will remain open for fare sales and access to surface routes, although some of the entrances will be closed.

See the TTC online for more information.

Photo radar praised, criticized and stolen

Residents in Leaside and East York have long called for a crackdown on speeding — but they’re divided on whether the newly installed photo radar units will help. Give us more such cameras, say photo radar supporters. No, give us more police patrols, say their critics.

But love them or hate them, at least midtown and east-end cameras are not being stolen or wrecked, as they have been in other parts of town. See the full story.

His refrigerated rink draws neighbourhood kids and adults

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

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

Winterlicious in Leaside and North Toronto

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

Sunnybrook isolates country’s first coronavirus victims

Canada’s first coronavirus case is in stable condition and is being kept in isolation in a negative pressure room at Sunnybrook hospital, 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.

Leaside women out for a good cause

The 2020 edition of Leaside Ladies Night Out is coming up on Thursday. The theme this year is Growing Together, in support of the Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers who are bringing urban farming to the densely populated, high-rise community of Thorncliffe Park.

“Together we can raise funds, donate tools, supplies and put on a set of gardening gloves and start Growing Together,” is the group’s motto.

Leaside Ladies Night Out is being held at the Leaside Pub, 190 Laird Dr., from 6:30 to 11 p.m.

Tickets are $30 at www.ticketor.com. If sold out online, some may be available at the door.

Untold story of Erie Canal shown at Todmorden exhibit

The exhibit “The Story of Water: The Erie Canal as a Site of Untold Stories” explores through cast clay vessels the marginalized histories that made the canal possible.

It’s free at Todmorden Mills starting today until Jan. 26. See the event listing for details.

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 the Leaside area.

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.

Leaside relatively free of violent crime

Shootings may have increased dramatically in the city last year — especially downtown and in the northwest suburbs — but they are still relatively rare in Leaside and midtown 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 and around Leaside.

Pedestrian struck by vehicle near Leaside intersection

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.

ACCIDENT CORNER: Bayview-Eglinton where pedestrian was struck by vehicle.

Free wintry fun begins at Brick Works

The family fun begins at Evergreen Brick Works this evening with outdoor skating, food, beverages, and other activities every Friday until Feb. 14. See more in our Things To Do listing.