Beaches–Leslieville Daily Updates: January–March 2022
Support Ukraine at Friday concert
Toronto-based bands and artists are organizing a fundraising concert in support of Ukraine on March 11 at the Opera House, 735 Queen St. E.
All profits go to support humanitarian aid and providing urgently requested medical supplies to volunteer medical units. More info in the Things To Do listing.
Stroller shown being stolen, woman sought
Images of a woman apparently shown in the act of stealing a stroller from a daycare in the Blake-Jones area have been released by police.
On Jan. 17 at about 3:30 p.m., police received a report a woman attended a daycare near Jones and Boultbee avenues and took a twin Bugaboo stroller.
She is described as wearing a pink toque, a pink sweater, a black jacket, black gloves, blue jeans and brown boots.
Two images of the woman have been released in hopes of identifying her, police say.
Wanted man arrested
A 40-year-old man wanted for alleged crimes in Leslieville (see Jan. 28 update) was arrested yesterday and charged, police announced this morning.
Man wanted for Leslieville crimes
Police are looking for a Toronto man wanted for allegedly committing crimes in the Leslieville area between Jan. 23 and Jan. 26, according to a news release today.
They’ve also released two photos of the suspect.
Gerard Silas Purcell, 40, is wanted on eight charges: attempted break and enter, assault, theft not exceeding $5,000, mischief and damage to property not exceeding $5,000, and four counts of breach of probation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5500.
Where can bands practise around here?
Like other musicians, Beach-based band Alter Kakers is looking for a place to play loud, but is finding Toronto rehearsal spaces are drying up.
The city is looking at ways to help them by stopping the hemorrhaging of rehearsal spaces and creating more. See the full story.
Fox Theatre to re-open
The east end’s favourite repertory cinema is re-opening Feb. 4, although at 50-percent capacity. That will allow 124 masked patrons to attend screenings at a time.
Movie-viewers will also be required to provide proof of being doubly vaccinated against COVID-19.
It’s official! We’ll be opening our doors for movies once again on Friday, February 4!
Per Provincial regulations, we’ll be operating at 50% capacity and our concession stand will have to remain closed.
Programming announcements coming soon! pic.twitter.com/cDqCcYakPw
— Fox Theatre (@Fox_Theatre) January 20, 2022
We’re recognized as a top movie-making capital
Toronto-Danforth councillor Paula Fletcher has heralded Toronto being named by MovieMaker magazine one of the top places to live and work in the film industry.
The city reached the number two position (not counting Los Angeles and New York) in 2022, right after Albuquerque, New Mexico in the top spot. This is a leap of 10 spaces since last year’s list, according to a city news release.
“This ranking reinforces the City’s prioritization of inclusive growth and the expansion of studio space,” said Fletcher, who chairs the Film, Television and Digital Media Advisory Board and in whose ward the Studio District is found. “We are committed to working with all levels of government and our industry partners to develop and ensure that Toronto’s screen industry workforce reflects Toronto’s diversity, so that we can continue to attract and tell these stories.”
And—who knows?—we could reach number one.
MovieMaker editor-in-chief Tim Molloy is quoted in the news release as saying, “With plans to dramatically increase its number of sound stages, the sky’s the limit. And Toronto is, of course, one of the most beloved and livable cities in North America, assuring a great quality of life and work-life balance.”
Leslieville knife store closing
Another local store is shutting down, though this time COVID and COVID-fighting restrictions are not being blamed.
Owners of KNIFE, which specializes in Japanese knives, announced today would be their last day open at their Queen Street East location.
“This decision wasn’t due to restrictions, closures, rent increases or even covid,” said their Instagram post yesterday. “This decision was made with the intention of channeling our energy towards a new chapter in KNIFE, to regain some of that spark that is so needed these days and to remember that we’re all in this together, and that we will all return stronger than ever.”
View this post on Instagram
What the next step for KNIFE will be is not spelled out. The business still seems to be open at its 807 Dundas St. W. location.
About the east-end shutdown, the message reads, “This closure isn’t a goodbye. This closure is a see you later.”
Give your views on the backyard hens program
The city is asking for feedback on its pilot program allowing hens to be raised in selected wards, including Toronto-Danforth and Beaches-East York.
As you might have noticed in this area, residents have been allowed to keep up to four hens in their yards for both enjoyment and the eggs.
Now members of the public can share their experiences and thoughts on the UrbanHensTO program, including considerations related to public health, nuisance, food security, veterinary care and animal welfare, the city has announced.
The deadline for feedback is Feb. 11. It is to inform a final report to a committee of the city council in March.
To submit your observations, see the UrbanHensTO Pilot Program website.
Town hall on new police station planned
A virtual town hall is planned for Jan. 24 to discuss the design of the new 55 Division Station on Danforth Avenue, which is to replace the current station at Coxwell and Dundas avenues and sub-station in the Bermondsey area.
See the Things To Do listing for details.
Passenger sprayed in face at Greenwood Station
Police are trying to identify a man suspected of spraying a passenger with an unknown substance at the Greenwood subway station.
On Jan. 4 at about 5:45 p.m. a man approached the passenger and, without provocation, sprayed him in the face, police said.
The man then allegedly travelled to Finch Station and sprayed another passenger on the bus platform.
Security camera images have been released to help identify the man in the assault investigation.
Entertainment venues closed
Entertainment facilities, like the Fox Theatre in the Beach, are closed as of today as the province moves into Step Two of its “reopening” plan, the government has announced.
Venues listed as being shut down by the recent rapid increase of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 include concert halls, theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and amusement parks.
Two Leslieville library branches to close temporarily
The Jones Library on Jones Avenue and the Gerrard/Ashdale Library on Gerrard Street East are both scheduled to shut down as of next Monday, as the Toronto Public Library has announced nearly half of its branches are closing temporarily due to staffing shortages during the COVID pandemic
At least two libraries in East York are also closing, but in general the east end is getting off lightly. Local branches staying open include Beaches, Danforth/Coxwell, Main Street, Pape/Danforth, Riverdale, S. Walter Stewart and Thorncliffe Park. See the full story.
