North Toronto Daily Updates
The latest news, views and things to do in North Toronto neighbourhoods
Councillor Matlow going for city’s top job
Promising to “fix our city,” Toronto-St. Paul’s councillor Josh Matlow announced today he is running for mayor.
If elected, his first act would be to raise property taxes by an average of $67 to create a fund to make the city work better, Matlow said in a statement today.
See the story and the full announcement in Streeter news.
Former police chief joins mayor’s race
Former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders, who ran for MPP in this area last year, confirmed to media yesterday evening he is now seeking election as the city’s next mayor.
Saunders contested the 2022 provincial election as Progressive Conservative candidate for Don Valley West, but was defeated by the Liberals’ Stephanie Bowman.
See CP24’s video report on the breaking news.
Weekend subway closure postponed to April
The subway is now scheduled to be shut down between Bloor-Yonge and York Mills stations on April 1 and 2, rather than for this coming weekend (see March 5 item below), the Toronto Transit Commission has announced.
The closure is for work on the signal system on Line 1.
Shuttle buses are planned to operate along the route on those days and stations are also to remain open, the TTC says.
Tattoo removal brought to midtown
Regret that “True Love Forever” tattoo you got for your ex? Or the facial tat that makes it look like you’re always crying? Or that scary design on your arm you’ve been hiding under long sleeves even in summer?
Now there’s a place in midtown where you can get rid of or fade your unwanted tattoos.
Removery tattoo removal studio recently opened at Yonge and Eglinton. Read all about it on Streeter.
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.
Public consultation on Eglinton tower planned
A 32-storey condominium building is proposed to replace the eight-storey medical building at 586 Eglinton Ave. E., west of Bayview Avenue. The development is to be discussed at an online community consultation on the evening of March 21.
For more information and to register for the meeting, see the Streeter Things To Do listing.
Subway line to be shut down for one day
If you’re planning travel about the city on the weekend, be aware the TTC is advising Line 1 of the subway will be closed between Bloor-Yonge and York Mills stations on Saturday, March 18. The closure is for scheduled work on the automatic train control signal system.
Summerhill Station will also be closed, but all other stations are to stay open for loading PRESTO cards, buying PRESTO tickets and connecting to surface routes.
Shuttle buses will operate on the route. For more details see the TTC service advisory.
Gunfire heard in attempted robbery
Police reported a firearm was discharged and robbery attempted this afternoon near Eglinton Avenue West and Avenue Road.
A police tweet first reported they were investigating reports of shots fired at 1:20 p.m. A followup post confirmed the shooting and added attempted robbery.
No injuries were reported. Police say they are still investigating.
Subway closure planned for last weekend of March
Line 1 is to be shut down between Bloor-Yonge and York Mills stations on March 25 and 26 for work on the signal system, the Toronto Transit Commission has announced.
The work was originally planned for this weekend, but was cancelled due to the storm that hit Toronto.
Shuttle buses are scheduled to operate along the route during the closure. The subway stations are also to remain open for customers to load PRESTO cards, purchase PRESTO Tickets and connect to buses, the TTC says.
Munsch stage performance is back — and selling out
Fireside Munsch is returning to the Wychwood Theatre for a run from March 11 to 17.
The high-energy performance of four favourite Robert Munsch stories all in one play, starring actor M. John Kennedy, has thrilled family audiences.
But you’d better hurry to get your tickets as shows are already selling out.
See the Streeter Things To Do listing for more details.
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.
This is what $7 million will get you
A BlogTO story today takes you into a North Toronto mansion that has come on the market priced at $7.2 million. This room-by-room exploration of a house on Dawlish Avenue in the Lawrence Park neighbourhood, is complete with stunning pictures.
Seven million dollars will apparently get you four spacious bedrooms with ensuites, a huge kitchen and other living quarters, three fireplaces, wide skylights, a fitness studio, an elegant home office, a walk-out roof terrace, a covered deck and a three-car garage, the article shows. Oh yeah, and a heated driveway, so you don’t have to shovel out.
Trees to be replaced for Crosstown LRT today
Two trees are scheduled to removed today from Eglinton Avenue West, east of Highbourne Road, to make way for a new streetscape and cycle track, according to a construction update for the Crosstown LRT.
New trees are to be planted to replace the removed trees, Metrolinx says.
Local home prices dropping, real estate board says
Home prices are down by 12.6 per cent from last year in this 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 “C04” area, including Lawrence Park, Bedford Park-Nortown, Forest Hill North and Englemount-Lawrence.
As of January, the average home here is now about $2,1 million, TRREB reports. Single, detached houses have taken the biggest hit, dropping about 13 per cent to about $2.5 million.
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.
Family Day fun planned at Spadina Museum
Spadina Museum is one of seven Toronto History Museums planning Family Day activities on Feb. 20.
For information about the Family Day programming at history museums across Toronto, see 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 North Toronto 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.
Don Valley West 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 Don Valley West is on Harrison Road near Vernham Avenue.
The new camera will join two existing speed cameras in the ward.
See the full Streeter story on the new cameras.
Mermaid Cafe offers picture-worthy fare and decor
The decor of the recently opened Mermaid Cafe at 2655 Yonge St., second floor, serves deep-sea inspired beverages and desserts with its colourful logo and marine designs every where you look.
Obviously inspired by The Little Mermaid movie, it provides a perfect backdrop for customers who wish to snap selfies and create eye-catching Instagram posts.
See the Streeter story about this place that calls itself the “first café of its kind in Toronto.”
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.
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.
For more information on the program and registration, see the Streeter calendar listing.
Letter to Ford opposes ‘strong mayor’ bill
Don Valley West councillor Jaye Robinson is among 15 city councillors sending a letter today to Premier Doug Ford opposing the province’s Bill 39, the so-called Better Municipal Governance Act.
The Act would, under certain conditions, let the mayor of Toronto propose and pass bylaws with support of only one-third of city council, a move that critics have called undemocratic.
See full text of letter at Progress Toronto.
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