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wilderness adventures Volume 52 No. 11
BEACHMETRO.COM
August 22, 2023
Bluffs Food Bank marks 20 years as need for services keeps growing By Amarachi Amadike, Journalism Initiative Reporter
Local
AS THE Bluff’s Food Bank (BFB) prepares to mark 20 years of operation, its volunteers and workers worry about the steadily increasing demand for their services as Toronto’s affordability crisis shows no signs of slowing down. Beach Metro Community News reported earlier this year that there has been a 40 per cent year-to-year increase in BFB client visits, but Beth Moore, the organization’s long-time secretary and board member, said that this number has now climbed to an increase of 60 per cent in the past few months. “We’re proud of the way the relationships have worked to serve a need, but we’re sad that there is a growing need,” said Moore. Bluffs Food Bank, which serves clients from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Birchcliff Bluffs United Church on East Road, has assisted Scarborough-Southwest residents since 2003 when five churches – Birchcliff Bluffs United, St. Nicholas Anglican, Birch Cliff, Fallingbrook Presbyterian, Scarborough Baptist and Fallingbrook Heights Baptist – banded together
Local
ONTARIO’S MINISTRY of Health has launched a review of safe injection sites across the province after an innocent bystander was killed outside the South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) last month. On July 7, 44-year-old mother of two Karolina Huebner-Makurat was hit by a stray bullet while walking through the Leslieville neighbourhood as three men – across
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to tackle pressures of food insecurity in the community. “Those five churches continue to serve it today with volunteers, serving on the Board of Directors, and financially,” said Moore. “So, it’s been a real achievement to continue that relationship of five churches of different denominations.” In an effort to go the extra mile, the food bank also started an income tax service in 2004 that has saved many clients money on service fees that other companies would have charged. Although their mission began with just 24 families (42 individuals) being served due to financial hardships, just over a year later, their BFB service increased to 1,861 people. Unfortunately, this number has continuously climbed through the years and today BFB is serving 1,200 families – comprising 3,000 people – every month. In the past year, as many as 30,000 people have walked through the BFB doors seeking assistance. It’s been reported that 6,000 of those are children while 2,500 are seniors over the age of 65. Continued on Page 17
the street from SRCHC – got into a physical altercation near the intersection of Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue which turned deadly. The incident has sparked community outrage as residents in the surrounding area had long complained of increased criminal activity in front of the community centre which houses a safe injection site. Although the safe injection site has been active since 2017, reports of an increase in crime only began Continued on Page 5
PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON
Elena Sati of the Don Rowing Club hits the lake and prepares to enter her boat during the RowOntario Beach Sprint Championships held on Saturday at Woodbine Beach. The event was co-hosted by East Toronto’s Hanlan Boat Club.
Unleashed dogs focus of city campaign By Nafisat Alao
AFTER A city-wide surge in incidents involving dogs that are off leash, the city held a press briefing in the Beach earlier this month urging dog owners to be responsible for their pet’s actions. Jasmine Herzog-Evans, manager of the enforcement and mobile response unit at Toronto Animal Services, spoke at the foot of Lee Avenue about the recent surge in off-leash dog attacks across the city. According to a city news release, the number of dogs attacks has surged by 39 per cent compared to 2021. Moreover, 2022 saw a 19 per cent increase in confrontations be-
tween dogs and other animals. This year, the city has imposed more than 44 dangerous dog orders and 168 written warnings for bylaw violations. These latest violent attacks encompass not only violent encounters with dogs but also incidents involving unleashed dogs, even those concerning children. Last month, an East York mother of two was left with serious injuries after being mauled by a dog she encountered near her home. The owner was charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm. In 2021, a 69-year-old man in the Beach was hospitalized after breaking his pelvis when his bicycle collided with an unleashed dog on a
section of Martin Goodman Trail. The owner of the dog in that incident did not remain at the scene. Beach residents have expressed numerous complaints about inadequate enforcement of leash laws. The city says “bylaw enforcement officers regularly monitor parks for off-leash dogs and respond to complaints and issues involving dogs.” Herzog-Evans said bylaw enforcement is challenging because officers do not have the authority to demand identification from dog owners and they are often given fake or incorrect name and addresses. Continued on Page 17
Nominations sought for 2023 Beach Citizen of the Year NOMINATIONS ARE now being sought for the 2023 Beach Citizen of the Year. Do you know someone who has worked hard over a period of time to improve life in the Beach community, has had an impact on a broad spectrum of community members, has made a tangible contribution over a long period of time and has inspired others to participate more
in community life? Now is the time to nominate them for Beach Citizen of the Year. The award is for a person who volunteers their time, not someone in a paid position. The annual award is founded and presented by Community Centre 55, the Beaches Lions Club, and Beach Metro Community News. It has been handed out since 2001. Nomination forms for the 2023
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Shooting leads to provincial review of safe injection sites By Amarachi Amadike, Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Beach Citizen of the Year are available at www.centre55.com/community_programs/beach-citizen-ofthe-year Nominations should be sent to Beach Citizen of the Year, Community Centre 55, 97 Main St., Toronto, ON, M4E 2V6. They can also be emailed to jade@centre55.com. Deadline for nominations to be received is 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1.