East Danforth Daily Updates
The latest news, views and things to do in East Danforth neighbourhoods
Streeter news:Feeding any wildlife, anywhere in city to be banned
On April 1 a new city bylaw comes into effect prohibiting the feeding of wildlife anywhere in Toronto.
And for good reason, according to wildlife experts. You may think you’re helping the animals but you’re not.
Even the traditional practice of throwing bread crumbs to birds is not helpful, the experts say.
Read Dennis Hanagan’s full story in Streeter news about the bylaw and the dangers of feeding the animals.
Homes evacuated after shed caught fire
Police reported on Twitter a shed was discovered on fire near Oakcrest and Beck avenues yesterday evening. Nearby homes were evacuated and the blaze was brought under control.
FIRE:
Oakcrest Ave & Beck Ave
– reports of a shed on fire
– police o/s
– officers evacuating people from homes for safety
– @Toronto_Fire o/s – advised fire is under control
– road closures in the immediate area
– no reported injuries#GO670068
^al— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) March 27, 2023
Knife-wielding man at Victoria Park station
A man was reported chasing TTC patrons with a knife on the westbound subway platform yesterday evening.
Police found the man and no injuries were reported, they said on Twitter.
Police report:PERSON WITH A KNIFE: UPDATE
Victoria Park Subway
– No reports of injuries
– Officers have located the man involved
– Thank-you for your patience while we investigated this matter
^lb— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) March 22, 2023
Outdoor skating continues to Sunday — if the ice holds up
The city is encouraging skaters to enjoy the last few days of the official outdoor skating season at our local rinks. However, the weather seems poised to end the season earlier than the scheduled March 19 deadline.
Sunday evening is when the city starts to close its outdoor artificial ice rinks, natural ice rinks and skating trails and begin its annual conversion of spaces into skateboarding parks, tennis courts and pickleball spaces.
Meanwhile the forecast for the next four days calls for rainy and overcast days with temperatures mainly above zero.
Identity of man sought after sexual assault
An image has been released by police seeking the identity of a man wanted in a sexual assault investigation.
The alleged assault occurred March 11 before 8:45 p.m. near Danforth and Victoria Park avenues, police said.
A man reportedly offered to help a woman who was shopping in the area but ended up attacking her, before fleeing the area in a silver SUV.
For more details and suspect description, see the police news release.
Arrest for crosstown bank robberies 20 minutes apart
A man was arrested yesterday after a bank robbery near Danforth and Coxwell avenues, police reported today.
It was the second such bank robbery of the day, they said. Twenty minutes before the East Danforth holdup, officers had responded to a holdup call near Bloor and Bathurst streets.
In both cases a man is alleged to have worn a mask and gloves while handing a teller a note saying he had a firearm and demanding cash. The man then fled the areas with the money, police said.
A 24-year-old Toronto man faces six charges, including two counts each of robbery and disguise with intent.
Developments to change the face of Danforth
The full scale of the transformation being wrought on East Danforth by multiple highrise developments was brought home at the community consultation yesterday.
The virtual meeting heard from three development teams on the eight buildings, ranging from 15 to 55 storeys, they propose to add to the existing buildings and to eight other towers already approved for the stretch of Danforth Avenue from Main Street to Dawes Road.
Little time was left at the meeting, however, for community feedback.
See Streeter’s full report on the event.
Man sought for spraying subway rider with noxious substance
A subway passenger was repeatedly sprayed with an unknown, pepper-like substance on the Bloor-Danforth line between Donlands and Greenwood stations on the evening of Feb. 28, police report.
Two men, unknown to each other, were travelling eastbound when, without provocation, one man sprayed the other man in the face, police said in a new release today. Each time the victim stepped away from the attack, he was sprayed again.
A man is wanted on three counts of administering a noxious substance. For more details, see the police news release.
Public consultation to be held on three massive Danforth developments
Thousands of residential units with several thousand more residences could be added if three planned developments on Danforth Avenue, between Main street and Dawes road, are approved.
A virtual community consultation on all three projects is being held on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. City planners and Beaches East York councillor Brad Bradford are scheduled to take part.
A total of eight new buildings, ranging from 15 to 55 storeys are being proposed.
For more on the projects and the online community meeting, see Streeter’s Thing To do listing.
Posters oppose Bradford’s mayoral run
Flyers have appeared on streets in Beaches-East York calling councillor Brad Bradford two-faced, headed “Deceive in the East” — a takeoff on “Believe in the East,” his slogan in the 2022 council race.
They have also popped up on social media, including on Twitter.
The posters are apparently intended to oppose Bradford’s expected campaign for mayor.
They purport to show his record of voting runs counter to the image he presents as a progressive politician.
Driver sought in interrupted sexual assault
Police are trying to identify a male who allegedly sexually assaulted someone in his vehicle in the east end on Feb. 25.
Police reported the incident began at about 3 a.m. when a man, described as in his 20s, offered a ride near Danforth and Greenwood avenues.
The vehicle was driven to a dead end street around Felstead and Lamb avenues where the victim was sexually assaulted, police said.
When another vehicle approached the dead end street, the man was reportedly startled and the victim escaped.
A description of the suspect and murky images of the suspect vehicle have been released. For more,
Summerlicious applications open
Winterlicious seems barely over and it’s already time for local restaurants to sign up for the summer edition of the fixed-price dining festival.
Applications to participate in the Summerlicious program will be accepted from today to March 22, the city has announced.
This year’s Summerlicious runs from July 7 to 23 and there’s good news for participating restaurants: the fees have been cut to less than half the pre-pandemic rates. The new fee is $550. The city says this reduction should “make it easy and affordable for restaurants to participate and will encourage more Toronto residents to dine out and celebrate Toronto’s diverse culinary scene.”
Restaurants can find more information on the City’s Summerlicious 2023 Restaurant Participation webpage.
Will he or won’t he run?
It appears more certain than ever that Brad Bradford will indeed try for the top municipal job — though he is still hedging his bets somewhat.
The Beaches-East York councillor released a statement today in which he announced he is putting together an advisory committee, including some business and political heavy-hitters from across the Liberal-Conservative spectrum, seemingly in preparation for a run for mayor.
He says he’s building a “winning team … that will ensure any campaign I lead represents the broad diversity and perspectives found across the entire city.”
Asked directly by media whether this means he is in the race, he has replied he is considering it very seriously and talked of what he intends to do “if I am running.” See CP24 video for one such
Federal rep ponders what he could do as provincial leader
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith appears closer to declaring himself a candidate for the Ontario Liberal leadership, though he won’t make his final decision until next month when the party sets the rules for the race.
That’s what may be gleaned from a CBC story today in which the Beaches-East York MP, who has been touring the province for a possible run, touted his experience as an outspoken backbencher in Ottawa as showing he could bring democratic renewal to the Ontario political scene.
Man arrested for assault over parking ticket
A parking enforcement officer was issuing a parking violation notice for a car parked on Danforth Avenue near Kelvin Avenue on Tuesday afternoon when he was approached from behind, police report.
The approaching man allegedly slapped the officer’s hand and threw his device to the ground, before getting in the vehicle and driving away.
Later the same day a man was arrested and charged with assault. More details in the police news release.
Local home prices dropping, real estate board says
Home prices are down by 12 per cent from last year in this general area, according to figures recently released by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. The report indicates the year-over-year decrease for the real estate “E02” area, including Beaches, East End-Danforth and Woodbine Corridor.
As of January, the average home here is now about $1.3 million, TRREB reports.
Single, detached houses have taken the biggest hit, dropping 13.8 per cent to about $1.6 million.
Charges in ‘hate-motivated assault’ of child on local bus
A man has been arrested for an alleged assault near Danforth Avenue and Main Street, an incident that police are calling a hate-motivated offence.
It is alleged on Feb. 8 a man threatened several passengers on a bus near the Main Street Station, made racial slurs, and assaulted a 12-year-old. He reportedly left the bus and fled before police arrived. The child suffered suffered minor injuries, police said.
On Feb. 20 a Toronto man, 32, was arrested and faces three charges.
After consulting with their hate crime unit, police said the investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence. See the police news release for more details.
Parking restrictions eased for Family Day
Police have announced they will not be ticketing vehicles parked on the street on Feb. 20 on rush-hour routes and in areas with posted Monday–Friday regulations.
Erskine-Smith says he won’t run for mayor
Beaches-East York Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, whose name has also been tossed around as a possible contender to replace Mayor John Tory, appears to have taken himself out of the running.
Earlier he put himself forward as running for the leadership of the Ontario Liberals. On Twitter he says today he is “focused on serving my home community and Canadians in Parliament and bringing much needed change to the Ontario Liberal Party.”
As a voter in Toronto, I want more ambition at City Hall.
I will vote for a Mayor who looks after our most vulnerable, cuts red tape and builds more housing, and makes Toronto a global leader in sustainability and public health.
— Nate Erskine-Smith (@beynate) February 13, 2023
Bradford touted for mayoralty run
Beaches-East York councillor Brad Bradford says he’s received calls asking him to run for mayor, since John Tory’s sudden resignation, according to a Toronto Star article about possible candidates yesterday.
Bradford, who was supported by Tory when first elected to council in 2018, reportedly told the Star he hasn’t decided yet whether to run for mayor.
Skate Day is back at Ted Reeve
Beaches-East York’s city councillor, MPP and MP are joining together to host their annual Skate Day at Ted Reeve Arena.
It takes place on Feb. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
See more information on this event at the Streeter Things To Do listing.
Report our potholes to be fixed
You may see repair crews out on the roads today as the city launches its first pothole-fixing blitz of the year.
Chances are, though, plenty of East Danforth potholes will remain unless they are reported. To get those car-wrecking eyesores filled, report them via the 311 Toronto mobile app, online at Toronto.ca/311 or by calling 311.
The city says most repairs are carried out within four days of potholes being reported.
Arrest made in pedestrian homicide
Police said today they’ve made an arrest in the investigation of the death of a pedestrian at Danforth and Cedarvale avenues on Feb. 5.
Ryan Andrews, 24, of Toronto was arrested yesterday and has been charged with first-degree murder.
‘Hate-motivated’ assault reported on bus near Main
And the reports of violence on the TTC keep coming. On Feb. 8 police were called to Main Street Station after a girl was reportedly assaulted on a bus near Main Street Station.
Police are calling it a hate-motivated crime because a racial slur was allegedly made.
See the police news release for details and images.
East York auto thefts reported on the rise
A story in the Toronto Observer today says East York is seeing a major increase in reports of auto thefts, counting nearly 200 incidents in January alone.
This reflects figures from Toronto as a whole which has experienced a nearly 50-per-cent increase in the crime over the past year, according to the article.
Local romances
Local 1794 at 1794 Danforth Ave. in East Danforth is one of many restaurants across town offering a special Valentine’s Day menu and romantic atmosphere for Feb. 14.
But spaces are filling up everywhere, so get your reservations in as soon as possible.
Victim identified, more details in pedestrian homicide
Police have identified the man struck and killed by a vehicle on the sidewalk at Danforth and Cedarvale avenues as Gabriel del Castillo Mullally, 25, of Toronto.
They have also provided more details of the events leading up to the alleged homicide.
Get more of the story at Streeter news.
Vehicle on Danforth kills pedestrian on sidewalk
Early this morning police were called to an apparent hit-and-run accident in front of Tim Hortons at Danforth and Cedarvale avenues. The victim died after being rushed to hospital and police started treating the incident as a homicide.
Get the full Streeter news story.
Danforth assault now a homicide case
The 73-year-old victim of an alleged assault on Danforth Avenue (see Jan. 28 item below) has died and police are now seeking a man for manslaughter.
The deceased has been identified as Douglas (Michael) Finlay, a former CBC journalist and producer.
The man being sought has been identified as Robert Robin Cropearedwolf, 43. His photo has been released.
See the full story and image on Streeter news.
This ward soon to have three cameras to catch speeders
The city is adding 25 automated speed enforcement cameras, one for each ward in Toronto. The most recent ASE site in Beaches-East York is on Main Street south of Swanwick Avenue.
It joins two other such cameras in the ward, currently located on Wolverleigh Boulevard, west of Glebemount Avenue, and on Gerrard Street East, east of Beaton Avenue.
See the full Streeter story on the new cameras.
Councillor seeking rethink of CafeTO charges
Toronto-Danforth councillor Paula Fletcher says the proposed changes to the CafeTO program, which created curbside patios on streets like Danforth Avenue and Queen Street East, are “too big and too fast” for many businesses that are still reeling from the impact of the pandemic.
She has sent a letter to city council’s executive committee asking that the proposed re-introduction of charges for the program be replaced by a more modest participation fee.
Restaurants Canada representatives have also told Mayor John Tory and the executive committee that 60 per cent of restaurants would be unable to participate at the higher rate. The plan goes to city council on Feb. 7.
Two arrested in alleged home invasion
Three days after a reported home invasion near Woodbine and Norway avenues (see Jan. 29 item below), the man and woman suspects have been arrested, police say.
Police received information from the public that led to finding the two in the area of Danforth and Cedarvale avenues, according to a news release.
Arrested on Jan. 31 at about 7:30 p.m., the Toronto man, 38, and Toronto woman, 3o, face a total of 14 charges, including breaking and entering, robbery with an offensive weapon and assault with a weapon.
For more details, see the police news release.
Taylor Creek Trail is now repaved
In case you haven’t noticed it under the snow, the repaving of Taylor Creek Trail is completed and open for walking or cycling, the city says — though some locals have noted construction notices are still posted.
The new pathway is raised higher than the previous pavement to prevent the flooding that previously covered stretches of the well-travelled trail.
Have you spotted the orange pigeon?
Social media is reporting an unusually orange pigeon hanging around with other normally hued birds in the east end — notably outside Shopper’s World on Danforth Avenue at Victoria Park.
If you see it, tell us. The world wants to know.
Man and woman sought in home invasion investigation
Investigators are looking for a 38-year-old man and 30-year-old woman after an alleged home invasion, police said yesterday evening.
In the early hours of Jan. 28, two people armed with knives allegedly broke into a residence near Woodbine and Norway avenues and attacked a tenant. The tenant suffered serious injury, police said.
More information and images of the suspects are available in the police news release.
Town hall budget meeting for east-end residents
Have your say at the town hall meeting on the city’s 2023 budget, co-hosted by Toronto-Danforth and Beaches East York councillors. The meeting’s on Feb. 3. See more about it in Streeter’s Things To Do listing.
Identity sought in assault investigation
Police are looking for a man shown on security cameras after an alleged assault near Danforth and Jones avenues at about 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 24.
The victim fell to the ground and sustained serious injuries, police say.
The police news release provides an image and more information.
New CafeTO fees to hurt local eateries: Fragedakis
Local restaurants may be hit hard by the changes to the city’s CafeTO program this year, says Mary Fragedakis, executive director of the GreekTown on the Danforth BIA. She was talking to John Moore on Newstalk 1010’s Moore in the Morning program today.
City council is considering a staff report that proposes charging new fees for restaurants participating in CafeTO.
“Many small businesses are struggling terribly right now … and this is another stressor,” Fragedakis said. She predicted the new fees would put CafeTO out of reach for many of them.
Hear the interview on iHeart radio, including Mayor John Tory’s defence of the fees.
Gas leak shuts down part of Main Street
Hope United Church and nearby at Danforth Avenue and Main Street have been evacuated after discovery of a gas leak, according to a Toronto police tweet shortly after noon today.
No injuries were reported but Main north of Danforth was temporarily closed and subway stops at Main Station cancelled.
Sexual assault on subway near Woodbine
A man reportedly masturbated near passengers and assaulted a woman on a subway train westbound from Woodbine Station during morning rush hour, Toronto police say.
He is described as 35–45 years, having a heavy build, being unshaven, and wearing a black toque and all black clothes.
An image of the man and more information are given in a police press release.
JAN. 25 UPDATE: Police have issued a new press release stating “Upon further investigation, it has been determined that no criminal offence was committed.” They have also deleted the image.
Start making reservations for Winterlicious
Winterlicious is back, set to offer prix fixe lunches and dinners from Jan. 27 to Feb. 9.
East York-area restaurants participating in Winterlicious Toronto include Papyrus, 7 Numbers, Megas, Soula’s, Tapas at Embrujo, Rodeo Brazilian Steakhouse, and Il Fornello — all on Danforth Avenue — as well as California Restaurant on Pape Avenue.
You find the entire Toronto list on the city’s Winterlicious page.
Second arrest in 2021 homicide in East Danforth area
More than 17 months after an alleged homicide in the East Danforth area, Toronto police have charged a second person.
The victim, 77-year-old John Manion, died in hospital on Aug. 29, 2021, three weeks after being critically injured in a fight near Danforth and Walpole avenues, police said.
A man, 28, turned himself in to police on Sept. 4, 2021 and was charged with manslaughter.
And now police report a woman, 42, has also been arrested and charged.
Get the full story at Streeter news.
CampTO registration set to open
It’s time to start planning the kids’ summer camp activities at local parks and centres this summer. The city has announced its CampTO programs are online for your consideration, ready for registration beginning Feb. 11.
Some new programs have been added to the CampTO lineup for the programs that run from July 4 to Sept. 1.
Camp locations in the East York area include:
- Dentonia Park, 80 Thyra Ave.
- Dieppe Park, 455 Cosburn Ave.
- Earl Beatty Community Centre, 455 Glebeholme Blvd.
- East York Community Centre, 1081 Pape Ave.
- Main Square Community Centre, 245 Main St.
- O’Connor Community Centre, 1386 Victoria Park Ave.
- O’Connor Public School, 1665 O’Connor Dr.
- Stan Wadlow Clubhouse, 373 Cedarvale Ave.
- Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre, 67 Pottery Rd.
- Victoria Village Recreation Centre and Arena, 190 Bermondsey Rd.
For more information on the program and registration, see the Streeter calendar listing.
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