Volume 52 No. 6
BEACHMETRO.COM
May 16, 2023
120th anniversary celebrations at Malvern C.I.
Police put safety plan in place for Victoria Day long weekend By Alan Shackleton
PHOTOS: ALAN SHACKLETON
Photo above, Jen MacKay, Kate MacKay, Joanne Vickery, and Raj Sharma stand in front of their Class of 1992 photo during the 120th anniversary celebrations at Malvern Collegiate Institute on Saturday, May 13.
TORONTO POLICE say they will be deploying a “variety of resources” to ensure public safety in the Woodbine Beach area this upcoming Victoria Day long weekend. “Although we do not share detailed information about our operational plans, we can tell you that there are a variety of units across the (Toronto Police) Service working with our city partners on community safety plans for the Victoria Day long weekend,” said Toronto police in response to questions last week from Beach Metro Community News. “We expect large crowds and we want to assure the public there is a policing plan in place to support the city, with public safety at the forefront,” said police. The past two Victoria Day long weekends have seen huge crowds in the Woodbine Beach and Ashbridges Bay Park area and numerous incidences of rowdy and violent behaviour. Last year, on the
Sunday night leading into the holiday Monday morning, large groups of young people flooded into the area after being encouraged to do so by social media posts. Fireworks were being used as weapons as groups were firing them back and forth at each other, at buildings in the area, at passing vehicles and at police. By the time the dust had settled, seven police officers had been injured, a shooting and a stabbing reported, two armed robberies at gunpoint and multiple people arrested. An area resident called the night “horrific”. Further adding to last year’s frustration by residents was that similar, though not as bad behaviour, had taken place on two long weekends (including Victoria Day) in 2021. After the violence of last year’s Victoria Day, police put in a large and visible presence in the Woodbine Beach area for the Canada Day long weekend and there was not a repeat of the bad behav Continued on Page 3
Protection from off-leash dogs sought for beach area By Alan Shackleton
Photo at left, Ruth Chadwick Holz (Class of 1946) smiles after receiving a gift in the auditorium during the 120th anniversary celebrations at Malvern Collegiate Institute on Saturday, May 13. Photo above, Elma Bowbrick Riches (Class of 1939) with her gift.
LOCAL RESIDENTS looking to protect an area at the far west end of Woodbine Beach that has become home to nesting and migrating birds are finding themselves in conflict with some dog owners. The situation escalated recently when one of the people trying to protect the birds from dogs that are let off leash and then run through the area said he was assaulted by a dog owner. The victim of the reported assault does not want to be identified due to fear of the dog owner(s). “I now fear visiting Ashbridges Bay Park and Woodbine Beach.
Your space. Reimagined
Let's start your dream renovation today! 647 435 5433
www.norsemanconstruction.ca
#builtbynorseman
Unacceptable!” said the victim in a note to Beach Metro Community News last week. “Some off-leash dog owners are verbally abusive and sometimes physically threaten anyone who challenges their unlawful behaviour in a public park,” said the victim’s note. “Myself and many of my friends fear them. “Some dog owners continue on a daily basis to deliberately let their dogs chase and harm wildlife on Woodbine Beach. These people are repeat offenders, they know full well what they are doing. Hunting.” Toronto police confirmed to Beach Metro Community News last Continued on Page 4