North Toronto Daily Updates
A quick look at news, views and things to do locally
Local business shutdowns to spread after premier’s announcement
A lot more local businesses will be shut down tomorrow — temporarily, it is hoped — as Premier Doug Ford has announced only “essential workplaces” can stay open in the province.
This latest move to combat the spread of the coronavirus will leave our local grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, pet shops and several dozen other types of businesses operating from their storefronts and offices, while many more others are forced to close their doors. The closed shops, however, can still offer their products and services online and by phone, and eateries can still provide takeout and delivery service.
Here’s what we know so far about how it will affect the businesses in our communities. We’ll have much more about the local business scene later.
Now we have to avoid extreme weather too
It’s bad enough our streets are already almost empty with people avoiding the coronavirus, but now we have another reason to stay home. Toronto Public Health is asking residents to avoid non-essential travel today, according to a media release this morning.
This comes after Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a weather statement warning of possible extreme weather today. See the story in Streeter news.
Local shutdowns and cancellations prompted by coronavirus crisis
Ontario’s and Toronto’s chief medical officers have issued their warnings and recommendations about combating COVID-19 through local distancing. And now the speed of local shows being cancelled, venues shut down and programs postponed has accelerated across midtown and central Toronto
We’re trying to stay on top of it with an updated tips list in Streeter news. If you’ve learned of any other schedule changes in our communities due to coronavirus concerns, let us know.
Mabel’s Fables more than a bookstore, columnist says
Columnist Brian Baker recalls shopping for books for his young kids at the Mt. Pleasant Road bookstore and discovering how much more the shop, overseen by a cat, means to the community. That’s why he resents the possibility of it being replaced by yet another development. Read the Blast Radius column.
Mabel’s Fables facing city-wide problems for retailers, store owner says
Despite the meeting to save Mabel’s Fables being cancelled last night, store owner Eleanor LeFave is still upbeat about its prospects. The community is still strongly supportive — and not only of her business but of businesses across the city facing the same problems, she says. Especially of concern are the Eglinton Street retailers who are most suffering from the continuing LRT construction, LeFave says.
And she doesn’t think much of the latest $3 million gift from the provincial government for business adversely affected by the work. It will all be wasted on media and marketing companies, she claims.
Councillor exposed to coronavirus, cancels public meetings
Toronto-St. Paul’s councillor Josh Matlow is in isolation after being being informed he has been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Which means all his public meetings have been cancelled or postponed for two weeks, including tonight’s meeting to “Save Mabel’s Fables Bookstore.”
For more on this story, see the Streeter news account.
Public school community warned of exposure to coronavirus
Toronto’s medical officer Dr. Eileen de Villa has sent a letter to Whitney Junior Public School in Rosedale warning that it may have been exposed to a confirmed case of the coronavirus, several media are reporting this morning.
An individual who was not symptomatic at the time, was at the school on March 4 and later tested positive for COVID-19, said the letter reportedly sent to members of the Whitney school community on Saturday.
We’ll have more on this story as it develops, as well as news on any other cases of coronavirus in the local area.
Subway closed north of Eglinton today and tomorrow
Yonge Street subway service is being suspended from Eglinton to Sheppard-Yonge stations on Saturday and Sunday for track work, the TTC says. Shuttle buses are operating and all stations are open for fare sales, access to bus routes and connecting lines.
At York Mills, the Old York Mills Road entrance is closed and at Lawrence Station, the automatic entrances at Ranleigh Avenue and Bedford Park Avenue are also closed.
Here’s more details from the TTC.
Garbage deal ratified by city and union
We should be getting garbage pickup and other services in our neighbourhboods east of Yonge Street for quite a while longer after union members and city councillors ratified a five-year deal with the city’s outside workers. Read the latest news.
Safe bike lanes on Eglinton pushed by local group
A cycling group that meets in Midtown every month is pushing the city to create safe lanes. Holly Reid, who co-chairs Cycle Don Valley Midtown, says one of the group’s focuses now is getting city funding for protective lanes in the plans for Eglinton Connects.
Get the story in Streeter news.
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.
• Beaches-Leslieville • Central Toronto • Forest Hill • Don Valley • Leaside • Riverdale-East York
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 is 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.
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.
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