Beaches-Leslieville Daily Updates: July–August 2021
New couple wanted for aggravated assault
With an elderly man in hospital with critical injuries, police have released images of two new suspects in the investigation of an aggravated assault in the East Danforth area three weeks ago.
The images of the pair replace a photograph of a woman that was earlier released. Police say she is no longer a suspect. See the story.
Unlimited movies for film circle members
The Fox Theatre has introduced a new subscription membership program that lets you into an unlimited number of movies every month. Joining the Fox Film Circle costs $24.99 per month or $299 for the year — plus gets you discounts on concessions and members-only screenings.
Only 100 such memberships are available, the theatre says.
Pool hours extended during heat wave
The city is extending pool hours at seven outdoor pools, including Monarch Park Pool in the east end, after a heat warning issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada yesterday.
The selected pools will be open, weather permitting, until 11:45 p.m. tonight and may continue to have extended hours until the heat warning ends.
During the extended evening hours, from 8 to 11:45 p.m., pool access will be walk-in only and online reservations will not be available, city staff said in a press release today.
Services resuming at civic centres
The East York Civic Centre at 850 Coxwell Ave. is opening today as part of a citywide phased reopening of select in-person counter services at civic centres.
Some in-person services, such as marriage licences and zoning inquiries for the Toronto and East York district, will require booking an appointment, while other services will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, the city said in an announcement.
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Stella back with her owners
Police say Stella, the four-year-old dog taken from the Woodbine and Lake Shore area Tuesday, has been recovered and is in good health. Get the latest news.
Dognapping alleged as Stella taken
Police are looking for a four-year-old female dog going by the name of Stella, allegedly stolen by a man who drove off with her in his vehicle yesterday morning near Woodbine Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East.
The man who had been talking with a woman, while her dog cooled off in his minivan, pushed her away and left with Stella in the vehicle, it was reported. Here’s what we know so far.
Vaccination rates vary widely by neighbourhood
Wide disparities in vaccination rates among neighbourhoods are evident across Toronto — but even just in the east end.
Figures from the city show the Beaches and North Riverdale areas with the highest uptake in vaccinations for COVID-19, far above the lowest vaccinated area in the east end, the Crescent Town-dominated area the city calls Taylor-Massey.
Here’s a breakdown by east-end neighbourhoods of completed vaccination rates from highest to lowest, as of today.
- 63.5% Beaches
- 63.3% North Riverdale
- 62.4% Player Estates-Danforth
- 60.5% East End-Danforth
- 59.9% Woodbine-Lumsden
- 59.3% Danforth Village-Toronto
- 59.1% Danforth Village-East York
- 58.9% Old East York
- 58.8% South Riverdale
- 59.0% Woodbine Corridor
- 55.9% Greenwood-Coxwell
- 55.4% Blake-Jones
- 52.5% Broadview North
- 52.5% O’Connor-Parkview
- 44.8% Taylor-Massey
These figures are derived from the neighbourhood map on the city’s website.
Twenty-three communities COVID-free on latest city map
The city’s latest COVID map now shows 23 communities in Toronto without any new cases of COVID-19 over the past three weeks, a drop from 31 communities a couple of days earlier, as the Delta variant spreads in Toronto.
However, the figures remain more or less the same for the east end, with the same neighbourhoods fending off any new cases as reported a few days ago and the same neighbourhood showing as worst hit.
Star-studded lineup announced for Jack Layton tribute
City councillor Mike Layton has announced a growing lineup of artists and special guests taking part in the celebration of Jack Layton’s legacy Aug. 22.
Jack Layton was also a councillor for nearly a decade, and later Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth and leader of the federal NDP.
“Almost 10 years on, Jack’s message of love, hope and optimism is as important as ever— and that’s what this celebration is all about,” Mike Layton said in a statement July 18. See the full story.
Low COVID rates in east end — except for one neighbourhood
With COVID-19 numbers falling across Toronto, most of the east end continues to lead the way — with only one neighbourhood persisting with relatively high figures, according to the city’s latest COVID map.
Showing zero cases over the past 21 days are the areas designated Playter Estates-Danforth, Broadview North, Danforth, Old East York, Woodbine-Lumsden and Greenwood-Coxwell.
Areas with either one or two cases over the recent three weeks include South Riverdale, North Riverdale, Blake-Jones, Danforth-East York, East End-Danforth, Taylor-Massey and The Beaches.
The outlier is the area called the Woodbine Corridor, between Coxwell and Woodbine avenues north of Kingston Road, with seven cases in the same time period.
Man missing for up to five months last seen near Queen and Coxwell
Police say they are concerned for the safety of an east end man who appears to have been missing for five months.
Scott Allan, 48, was last seen in February in the area of Queen Street East and Coxwell Avenue, police report.
He is described as 5-foot-seven and wearing glasses, with a slim build, a receding hairline, light brown hair and green eyes.
No clothing description is available.
Police released images of the missing man today.
Two shot in Greenwood-Coxwell area
Another night of violence in the area: two men are in hospital — both with serious but non-life threatening injuries — after a shooting yesterday evening near Gerrard Street East and Highfield Road.
Officers found the wounded men after they were called to the area at 10:30 p.m. and medics rushed them to the hospital, police reported on social media.
Another man was said to be seen running through backyards in the Greenwood-Coxwell area near the Little India business district.
Police were searching the area, though nothing further was reported online.
Stabbing outside bar at Coxwell and Gerrard
Two men were reported fighting and one was stabbed this evening outside a bar near Coxwell Avenue and Gerrard Street East.
Officers searching the area found a victim suffering a serious but non-life threatening injury, according to police on social media.
Police later reported they had one man in custody but were searching for another. He was described as black, short in height, with a beard, and wearing a grey shirt with an emblem on the left chest and blue jeans. He may be wearing wearing a turban and a mask, police said.
Longtime pizza joint operator picketing his own place
The franchisee of a pizza joint on Queen Street East is picketing the shop and calling for a boycott after the Mamma’s Pizza corporation locked him and his employees out.
The lockout and the picketing came after Ozzy Anwari, who ran the shop for more than 17 years, refused to sign a franchise renewal agreement seeking higher royalties. Read the full story.
Sex assault in east-end Beach
A sexual assault investigation has been launched since an alleged attack yesterday evening in the Beach area.
A 24-year-old woman was reportedly approached and sexually assaulted by a man at about 10:45 p.m. near Queen Street East and Victoria Park Avenue. The man then fled on foot in an eastern direction, police said in a news release today.
The man is described as white, 20–30 years old and about 5-foot-9, with a slim nose and short dark hair. He was wearing a black t-shirt and black pants, according to police.
Man with knife sought after woman threatened in east end
Police are looking for a man who allegedly threatened a woman with a knife near Coxwell and Gerrard avenues on May 24.
After 8 p.m. a man got into an argument with a woman, produced a knife and threatened her, it is reported. He then allegedly damaged her apartment.
Jordan Willshire, 31, of Toronto, is wanted for assault with a weapon, uttering death threats and mischief, police said.
Police released an image of the man being sought.
He is described as 5-foot-8 and was last seen wearing a royal blue t-shirt, blue jeans, a black baseball cap, white sunglasses and black New Balance running shoes. He was said to be carrying a white and blue shopping bag and a black suitcase.
Canada Day arrests at Woodbine Beach as fireworks reported aimed at people
Police warned they were going to be monitoring Woodbine Beach to catch people setting off fireworks, but that didn’t stop some young people.
At least eight individuals under 21 years old face multiple charges after fireworks were allegedly fired at beach-goers, officers and horses on July 1. Get the full story.
