York Mills Daily Updates
A quick look at news, views and things to do locally
Library branches to close temporarily
The Armour Heights Library at 3885 Yonge St. is among the library branches to shut down as of Monday.
The Toronto Public Library has announced nearly half of its branches are closing temporarily due to staffing shortages during the COVID pandemic.
Other local branches will remain open with 50-percent capacity limits. See the full story.
What’s open over Christmas weekend in York Mills and North Toronto
Think you might need to pick up supplies sometime between Friday and Sunday over the holidays? Or pick up a prescription? Buy a last-minute gift? Or just get out of the house and go skating, visit a museum, or have some other fun?
Here’s our ever-growing list of what’s open over the Christmas weekend in Streeter communities.
North York Knights shut down hockey play as COVID surges
The North York Knights hockey association is suspending all hockey activities in the face of difficult pandemic news.
“We are hearing from neighbouring hockey clubs of players and entire teams that need to self-isolate due to positive Covid tests or confirmed exposures; and modelling by the provincial government task forces suggest that cases will escalate exponentially in the coming days,” Knights president Scott Lowry says in a statement on the website today.
“We feel we have no choice but to suspend all North York Knights hockey activities effective immediately,” the statement says. “There will be no exception to this decision and we ask that all families and coaches respect this decision with no teams or players entering the arenas this weekend.”
The Knights join other hockey organizations in the city, including the North Toronto Hockey Association and East York Hockey Association, who have reached similar decisions.
This break could help the Knights return to their normal schedule by the weekend of Jan. 8–9, the association says.
First suspect in four-year-old Shermans murder case shown in video
Police have released video of a person they are calling a “suspect” in the murders of Barry and Honey Sherman in December 2017.
A man is shown in the video walking through the York Mills neighbourhood around the time of the killing of the billionaire couple at 50 Old Colony Rd. Get the whole story.
Man sought for assault in York Mills
A 21-year-old man is wanted by police in the investigation of alleged assaults yesterday morning in the York Mills area.
Police say officers officers responded to a call for an assault near Bayview Avenue and Fifeshire Road on Nov. 14 at 6:37 a.m.,
A man allegedly contacted a 19-year-old woman online and sent threatening messages and images. He was already required by the courts not to have contact with her, police said.
Kevon Reid, 21, of Toronto, is wanted for three counts of assault by choking, assault with a Weapon, six counts of assault, mischief to property under $5,000 and failing to comply with a release order.
He is described as 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-4, 150 pounds, and clean shaven.
He is considered violent and dangerous and should not be approached, police say.
Mendicino back in cabinet
Eglinton-Lawrence MP Marco Mendicino is back as a federal minister in Ottawa, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named and swore in his new cabinet today.
He is one of six Toronto MPs, plus GTA representatives, to be appointed. See more.
COVID cases confirmed in York Mills schools
While only one Toronto school — Silverthorn Collegiate in Etobicoke — has been shut down due to a COVID outbreak, many more schools are reporting smaller numbers of confirmed cases.
In the York Mills area, the following Toronto District School Board schools are among those recently affected, according to TDSB figures updated today:
- Dunlace PS Public School — 1 student
- Owen Public School — 1 resolved case
- York Mills Collegiate — 4 resolved cases
Fire destroys York Mills house under construction
The flames that gutted a mansion being built on Old Colony Road yesterday evening were visible from as far away as Highway 401, police said.
Emergency services were called at around 10 p.m. to the fire and had it under control by 3:30 a.m., although smoke was still rising from the roof at noon hour the following day. See the full story.
Boy, 15, arrested after school stabbing
A 15-year-old boy faces several charges after police investigated a stabbing at a school yesterday.
Officers were called to the school near Don Mills Road and Graydon Hall Drive at 1:41 p.m.
A 16-year-old boy was reportedly walking in the school hallway when he had a verbal altercation with a 15-year-old. The incident escalated into a physical altercation in which the older boy received a stab wound to his torso.
The injured boy made his way to hospital where he is currently in stable condition, police said.
The suspect allegedly fled the area but was arrested by police a shortly afterwards.
The 15-year-old boy faces four charges, including aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. He is to appear in court today.
Become the York Mills champion for climate action
The city is inviting you to become a Neighbourhood Climate Action Champion. It’ll take four or five hours a month of engaging with the local community to develop neighbourhood-based projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
You’ll get training and support to empower you to support residents in developing projects that reflect the needs and values of their communities — and you’ll receive a modest honorarium. See more in our Things to Do listing.
Oliphant wins his fourth term during Liberal sweep of Toronto
Liberal Rob Oliphant was re-elected for Don Valley West in yesterday’s federal election.
Oliphant is one of the midtown incumbents to win easily during the red sweep of Toronto, as his party won a minority government.
Part of subway line down for weekend
In case you’re travelling south by subway this weekend, the TTC is advising subway service will be shut down on Line 1 between Lawrence and St. Clair stations on Aug. 28 and 29 to accommodate Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction.
The stations will remain open, however, for access to PRESTO machines and to surface route. Shuttle buses will also be running on Yonge Street.
Subway line shut down this weekend
Subway service between St. Clair and Finch stations is being cancelled on June 19 and June 20 for work on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction project, the TTC says. It will also be carrying out track and signal maintenance work. Shuttle buses will operate.
At York Mills Station, the Old York Mills Road entrance will be closed, but you use the other station entrances.
At Lawrence Station, the automatic entrances at Ranleigh Avenue and Bedford Park Avenue will also be closed, though the entrances at Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue will be available.
On-street parking enforcement to resume Monday
Be careful when and where you park after this weekend. During the lockdown months you may have gotten away with parking on streets longer than the city-wide three-hour limit or in front of your house without an up-to-date permit, as police have been been lax in enforcing these and other parking rules.
But that’s about to change. As the province begins to reopen and traffic increases, routine enforcement of on-street parking regulations is to resume, starting 12:01 a.m. on June 14, Toronto police announced today.
You’ll have a little more time to get your residential on-street permits in order though. Enforcement of those violations will begin on June 21.
Snow-clearing extended to all our sidewalks
After a two-year trial with new, smaller snow plows on narrow sidewalks in Don Valley West and other wards, Toronto is extending its snow-clearing program to all its sidewalks, city council decided yesterday.
“Council’s approval today will ensure we can provide sidewalk snow removal across the city starting this winter,” Mayor John Tory said. Get the full story.
Vaccines open to ages 12 to 17 at city-run clinics
As of Sunday 8 a.m. Sunday, Toronto is opening vaccination appointments at city-run clinics to youth age 12 to 17. The closest city-run clinics to this area are at North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Ave. W., in midtown nbd at Mitchell Field Arena, 89 Church Avenue.
Appointments can be booked online or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900.
Parents or guardians do not need to accompany youth to clinics as parental consent is not required, as long as the healthcare personnel administering the shots finds the youths capable of understanding the decision to be vaccinated, according to a statement from the city today.
Vaccines open to ages 12 to 17 at city-run clinics
As of Sunday 8 a.m. Sunday, Toronto is opening vaccination appointments at city-run clinics to youth age 12 to 17. This includes clinics at North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Ave. W., in midtown and East York Town Centre, 45 Overlea Blvd., in Thorncliffe Park.
Appointments can be booked online or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900.
Parents or guardians do not need to accompany youth to clinics as parental consent is not required, as long as the healthcare personnel administering the shots finds the youths capable of understanding the decision to be vaccinated, according to a statement from the city today.
Golf, tennis and other outdoor recreations are back
Local golf courses, tennis courts and fitness areas should be busy with people getting their outdoor exercise again this long weekend, as long as they keep physically distanced.
Following Ontario’s go-ahead yesterday, the city is reopening its outdoor recreational amenities — with public health restrictions in place — as of May 22.
New locations for speed cameras
The city is moving its 50 automated speed enforcement (ASE) devices to begin a third round of ticketing in June.
The ASE devices, commonly called speed cameras or photo radar, have until recently been located on Erskine Avenue and Thorncliffe Park Drive in Don Valley West ward.
The new locations where you’ll have to watch your speeding in this area are:
- Blythwood Road near Blyth Hill Road
- Leslie Street south of Lawrence Avenue East
Briefs
- SUBWAY CLOSURE: Service on between Sheppard-Yonge and St Clair stations will close May 15–16 for maintenance. Shuttle buses will operate. The Old York Mills Road entrance to York Mills Station and the automatic entrances at Ranleigh Avenue and Bedford Park Avenue for Lawrence Station will be closed but you can use other station entrances.
- COVID-19 AT GROCER: Two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 at Loblaws, 3501 Yonge St., north of Lawrence Avenue, the company reported today. The last days the employees worked was recorded as May 2 and 4.
13 charges after police chase man said to be armed
It began with police trying to stop a suspected stolen vehicle in the Yorkdale Mall area. Which led to a police car being rammed, a chase on foot, recovery of a gun and ammunition — and an arrest on 13 counts.
Police crackdown on gatherings starts today
If you’re getting together in our parks or in your party rooms with friends or family who don’t live with you, watch out for the cops. They’re taking the latest prohibition against large gatherings — indoors and outdoors — quite seriously.
Like other divisions, 32 and 33 Divisions have even formed special units to find, break up and fine large groups flouting the rules. (The fines can surpass $10,000.)
Or better yet, give us all a break in the fight against COVID-19 — and don’t do it. See the full story.
COVID case found at Longo’s York Mills
Longo’s reported today a customer-facing employee has tested positive for COVID-19 at its York Mills store, 808 York Mills Rd. near Leslie Street. The employee’s last day on the the job was April 7, Longo’s says.
Reminder: Yonge line shut down for weekend
Not that you should be out and about this weekend anyway, but this is a reminder there will be no subway service on Line 1 between St. Clair and Finch stations tomorrow and Sunday. The closure is to accommodate Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction and work on the line’s signal system, the TTC says.
See April 5 item below for further details.
All Toronto schools shut down
Only yesterday Toronto Public Health advised the closing of 20 schools across Toronto for COVID investigations. Today the rest of Toronto’s elementary, middle and secondary schools are shuttered on the orders of Toronto’s chief medical officer, Dr. Eileen de Villa.
Students are to transition to remote learning which is to continue until April 18 — although this end date may also be extended, TPH warns. See the full story.
Weekend subway shutdown on Yonge line
There will be no subway service on the Yonge Street line between St. Clair and Finch stations on April 10 and 11, the Toronto Transit Commission has announced. The shutdown is to accommodate Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit construction but the TTC will take advantage of the closure to work on the Automatic Train Control signal system project.
Shuttle buses will operate.
All affected stations, except North York Centre Station, will stay open for the purchase of PRESTO fares and connection to other subway and surface routes.
At the York Mills Station, the Old York Mills Road entrance will be closed. And at Lawrence Station, the automatic entrances at Ranleigh Avenue and Bedford Park Avenue will also be closed.
City golf courses to open Thursday
Don Valley Golf Course at 4200 Yonge Street is among the city-run courses to open Thursday, several days ahead of schedule.
The city announced all five of its golf courses are opening for the 2021 season on April 1.
Guidelines have been developed in consultation with Toronto Public Health, including physical distancing between golfers and disinfection of equipment and surfaces, the city said in a press release today.
Tee times will be 10 minutes apart, starting at 7 a.m. and ending at dusk. Tee times are expected to sell out quickly, so residents are encouraged to book early. (Call Don Valley at 416-392-2465.)
Southbound Avenue Road closures
The southbound lane of Avenue Road at Cortleigh Boulevard, in the Lytton Park area, is to be shut down as of today for more than a month, the city says. The unspecified construction work causing the closure is estimated to continue until April 30.
Lanes closed on Lawrence East
Eastbound lanes of Lawrence Avenue are closed at 755 Lawrence Ave. East, just west of Leslie Street, until May 31, the city says. The closure is due to loading and offloading of machinery and material for construction. Two-way traffic is maintained, using westbound lanes, during the closure.
New locations coming for photo radar
You have until May to improve your driving on Blythwood Road, near Blyth Hill Road, and on Leslie Street, south of Lawrence Avenue East. That’s when the city’s automated speed enforcement (ASE) devices will be moved to these locations to catch speeding drivers in Don Valley West ward. This will be the third locations for the ASEs. They are currently snapping pictures and issuing tickets from their sites on Thorncliffe Park Drive and Erskine Avenue.
How safe do you feel? Tell the city
The deadline is approaching to fill out the SafeTO survey. The city wants to know the level of safety and wellbeing you feel in your community, and your priorities for the SafeTO plan to guide social systems — like community services, healthcare, policing — in serving Torontonians.
The online survey, which should take less than 10 minutes, is to be completed before March 12.
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