Beaches-Leslieville 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 east end 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 we 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.

Art installation removed due to damage

Winter Stations communications team, KG&A, released a statement this morning that the “Noodle Feed” art installation on Woodbine Beach had been removed due to it being damaged “beyond repair.” See the full story.

Visitors find art installation missing from beach

This morning, even during the light snowfall, art lovers on Woodbine Beach were surprised to find one Winter Stations installation, “Noodle Feed,” was gone. Apparently it was withdrawn due to having been damaged. Winter Stations communications company KG&A says it is about to release a statement on the matter.

We’ll have more on this story here as details are revealed.

Racist tirade at Leslieville store draws outrage on social media

A video making the rounds on social media shows a man spewing racist and obscene slurs at a security guard who had asked him to leave the Leslieville store.

The security guard at Value Village claims on the video to have seen the man attempting to shoplift.

The video on YouTube has been viewed more than 50,000 times and has elicited hundreds of comments from viewers denouncing racism and praising the security guard for keeping calm.

The man is wearing a dark cap and a dark jacket over a t-shirt displaying an American flag.

His furious remarks include slurs against South Asians and immigrants.

We’re providing a link to the video for those who wish to view it, but we’re not embedding it here due to the objectionable language.

Review of Winter Stations finds it intriguing and confusing

Winter Stations opened officially on Feb. 17 with four interactive art installations built upon lifeguard stands on Woodbine Beach. This is a reduced size for the event, which had six and seven works installed in the previous two years. But the installations still drew interest from visitors, even if some of them couldn’t figure out what to do with certain works. Our reviewer found both good and bad work on the beach.

Arrest after police raid finds child sexual abuse material

A man was arrested on child pornography charges on Feb. 6 after police executed a search warrant near Kingston Road and Main Street, police announced today.

Police allege the man, 42, accessed, possessed, and made available child sexual abuse material. He appeared in court at College Park on Feb. 7.

Peter MacKay lives among us

Did you know leading Conservative leadership contender Peter MacKay is a Beaches resident? If not, you’re not alone. Most east-end residents seem not to be aware of the would-be prime minister making his home in this area. More about this in Beaches-Leslieville news.

Love-hate relationship with photo radar

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.

Reserve free tickets for assisted dying doc at the Fox

The Fox Theatre hosts a screening of the documentary Road to Mercy, as well as Q&A with experts, on Feb. 11 presented by Beaches-East York MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith. It’s free but you have to reserve tickets. See the listing for details.

Man dead after shooting at Danforth and Greenwood

Toronto’s ninth homicide victim this year was found by police near Danforth and Greenwood Avenues early this morning. Police say they responded at about 3 a.m. to reports of shooting in the area and located an unconscious man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police are seeking several persons who fled the scene.

See the full story updated the same day.

Four art installations to cover Beaches’ lifeguard stations

The four winning entries in the 2020 Winter Stations art installation project should start taking shape soon. The annual outdoor art show transforms lifeguard stations along Toronto’s east-end shores. The installations created by designers from Spain, Austria, the United Kingdom and Toronto’s Centennial College will be shown from Feb. 17 to March 29. See more details in the Things To Listing.

Bike lane pilot project in Danforth Study

Bike lanes are in the Danforth Study now — a pilot project for up to two kilometres anyway — city staff said at the study’s second open house on Jan. 27. It was just one issue for the improvement of Danforth Avenue that the public was asked to comment on at the meeting that drew more than 200 local residents, businesses and workers. Read the full story.

Second open house on Danforth Study tomorrow

The second Danforth Study Open House takes place at Monarch Park Collegiate Institute on Jan. 27. The first open house on Nov. 7 drew about 400 east end residents and workers to discuss proposed development of Danforth Avenue.

More details in the Things To Do listing.

Winterlicious is back — reserve now

Winterlicious returns to 200 Toronto dining establishments presenting affordable, fixed price menus for two weeks starting Jan. 31. And there are lots of east end restaurants — in Riverdale, East York, Leslieville and the Beaches — taking part in the two-week food fest. Here’s where to make your reservations for local eateries.

Increased shootings and assaults, but few murders in east

Shootings may have increased dramatically in the city in 2019, according to year-end data from the police. But while shootings and shooting victims are up across Toronto, the number of fatalities and homicides is actually down.

In the east end, covered by the former 54 and 55 Divisions, only two murders were reported to have taken place both in East York, leaving Riverdale, Leslieville and the Beaches free of homicides last year.

The most common crime in the Beaches-Leslieville area was break-and-enters. 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 east-end neighbourhoods.

Free Friday skating begins at Brick Works

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