ww The SPECIAL REPORT n What happens when OBSERVER men go missing? Pages 4, 5 Serving our community since 1972 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, March 16, 2018 Mayor seeks third-party review of police cases LGBTQ activists say needs to ‘rethink policing’ after McArthur investigation

By BOBBY HRISTOVA The Observer

The is seeking a third-party review of how police handle missing-persons cases to ensure “absolutely no questions are left unanswered.” John Tory is also requesting a provincial in- quiry. “Maintaining the trust of all our communities is paramount,” Tory wrote in a news release. “I want to thank Toronto’s LGBTQ community for their leadership, strength and collaboration through this difficult time.” The request is a result of the police investiga- tion of alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur, who faces six counts of first-degree murder. Det.-Sgt. Hank Idsinga, lead detective on the McArthur case, revealed that police have also started a separate internal investigation related to inappropriate police conduct. About that internal review, Tory wrote, “I led the board...to ensure that the results of the al- ready underway internal review of these matters is made public.” The reported that police ques- tioned McArthur in 2016 allegations of physical abuse. Police released McArthur. Idsinga and his team were unaware of the en- counter. “The actions of some officers potentially did not do what they were supposed to have done, according to our policies and our procedures,” Idsinga told the Star. Detectives have taken rare steps to advance the case, releasing an image of a dead, unidenti- fied man possibly related to the murders. Shayelle Smith/The Observer While police review their own work, Tory is not the only one who wants more eyes on the Opening the doors to history case — and he is not the first to ask. Staff member Alex Myers leads a group of children and their parents on a tour of historic homes at the Todmorden Mills n See MAYOR, page 3 Heritage Site as a part of the Pottery Road facility’s March Break Mania event. Attempted murder charges, manhunt in spate of stabbings

By DOHA HANNO and SERGIO ARANGIO vious Saturday. Police are looking for an unidentified man According to police, two males attacked the The Observer And on Feb. 28 and March 5, two teenaged who fled from the scene. victim, who was later rushed to hospital with boys were arrested for attempted murder follow- He is described as white, 5-foot-9, and wear- non-life-threatening injuries. He is currently in East York has been hit by a series of unrelated ing a stabbing of a 16-year-old student at Cox- ing a royal blue shell jacket with a baseball cap. stable condition, police said. stabbings over the past two weeks. well and Cosburn avenues. Sidhu confirmed he was reportedly seen with a Sidhu said the victim knew at least one of his The latest, occurring on March 14 just before white female. attackers. the Observer went to press, left one person in Danforth-Greenwood “They weren’t strangers,” she said. hospital with life-threatening injuries and police Police responded to a call on Danforth Avenue Secord-Newman seeking the assailant who fled from the Danforth shortly before 2 a.m. on March 14 to find a man Toronto police have charged a 15-year-old Coxwell-Cosburn and Greenwood avenue scene. bleeding from stab wounds, media spokesperson boy with attempted murder and robbery after the One boy, 17, was arrested on Feb. 28, the same The week before, on March 7, police charged Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu said. stabbing of a 23-year-old man on March 10. day of the stabbing of a 16-year-old male at a bus a 15-year-old boy with attempted murder and The man was moving in and out of conscious- The man was stabbed repeatedly in the neck stop across the street from East York Collegiate. robbery after the repeated stabbing of a 23-year- ness and was rushed to hospital with life-threat- and head in the Secord and Newman avenues old man at Secord and Newman avenues the pre- ening injuries. area on March 7, police say. n See SPATE, page 2 2 NEWS Friday,The EastMarch York 16, Observer2018 The Friday, East YorkFebruary Observer 9, 2018

‘ POLICE & WHAT’S FIRE UP IN E.Y. Police charge Expert discusses man, 45, with systemic racism possession after Dr. Jennifer Mills will talk about her seizing drugs research on Black Canadians March A man, 45 has 20 at the S. Walter been charged in a Stewart Library, Danforth Avenue 170 Memorial and Dawes Road Park Ave., from drug bust. Emer- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. gency Task Force officers executed a search war- Join ceremony rant on Feb. 28, seizing a large honouring E.Y.’s quantity of drugs including, co- Agnes Macphail caine, OxyContin, Claire Floody/The Observer The 25th annual fentanyl, cannabis Toronto-Danforth MP Julie Dabrusin (left) and Toronto-Danforth Councillor Mary Fragedakis unpack the fed- Agnes Macphail substances and eral budget and discuss issues that are important to East York residents. Award Ceremony ecstasy. Robert will take place on Oliver, of Toronto, Saturday, March faces multiple 24 at 7 p.m. at charges including The East York Civic possession of Drug coverage on the menu Centre, 850 Cox- Schedule I and II well Ave. The 2018 substances and MP hosts budget breakfast longed disability” usually resulting in an in- me, because statistics can only really go so award will be pre- possession for the ability to work on a regular basis, according far,” Dabrusin said. sented to volun- purpose of traf- to give East York residents to the Government of ’s website. McCutcheon also doesn’t think it’s fair teer Carol Burtin ficking. That’s not all. The person had to contrib- that, as of Jan. 1, pharmacare extended Fripp, while guest a chance to give feedback ute to the Canadian Pension Plan for four its coverage to offer free prescriptions for speaker MP Rob of the last six years, earning the minimum anyone under 25 in , regardless of Oliphant will talk Man arrested By CLAIRE FLOODY amount of annual income, which in 2017 income. She believes the government was about Macphail, The Observer was $5,500 (the number is adjusted each trying to positively impact the most people the first woman after three year). possible. But why not support the people to be elected to neighbourhoods Barb McCutcheon arrived at East York’s Alternatively, the person could have con- with greater need first? parliament. The budget breakfast with a purpose: to talk tributed to CPP for three of the last six years “When I was 25, I was working, winner of the hit with thefts about pharmacare. while still needing to earn the required min- able-bodied, and using next to no prescrip- Agnes Macphail McCutcheon and her spouse, Rachelle imum income, but would have had to con- tions, yet they get their drugs paid for?” Public Speaking from cars Desrosiers, are East York residents, liv- tribute for at least 25 years. “It’s a very high McCutcheon said. “When people who are Contest and the A man has been ing only a few blocks away from the East standard in order to even qualify for CPP sufficiently disabled, worked for years and VOCA Chorus of arrested and York Community Centre where the budget Disability benefits,” McCutcheon said. paid into the government still aren’t taken Toronto will also charged with 59 breakfast — a meeting to discuss the newly People like Desrosiers are left in a limbo, care of?” be on hand. counts after a released federal budget with local MP Julie especially if they are disabled early in life. CPP Disability benefits also don’t cover series of prop- Dabrusin — was held March 11. They both Their disability makes it challenging for costs for things, such as dental, physiother- erty thefts from want to see more financial support under them to work and earn income, and many apy or eye care. These medical services add Greektown walk parked cars in the pharmacare, a system of public insurance face high drug costs. up, but for people with disabilities they can Parkview Hills, coverage for prescription drugs in Canada. In addition, Ontarians aren’t eligible for be even more expensive. Desrosiers has a offers an inside Topham Park, and Desrosiers receives Canadian Pension the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program very high prescription and is legally blind peek at history Edge Park areas. Plan (CPP) Disability benefits, but under until they are 65. For those on CPP Disabili- in one eye — they recently paid over $700 Police allege the the current federal budget her drugs and a ty, that could mean a long wait until they get for her new glasses with no help from the The Greek Canadi- accused tres- lot of other medical expenses aren’t cov- their drugs paid for. To put that in perspec- government. Their insurance paid them an Project, along passed on resi- ered. Her medications cost $6,901 last year, tive, Desrosiers takes seven types of drugs back $150, but that minimal coverage is with Myseum dential properties and that’s just from her primary pharmacy. each day; one of them alone costs almost available only every two years. of Toronto, York and checked vehi- The government did not cover any of those $12 a day. Although McCutcheon and Desrosiers University and cles for unlocked expenses. “The government acknowledges these aren’t personally struggling to make ends the Clara Thomas doors. If doors Fortunately, her spouse has a good pen- people are so disabled they cannot work, meet, they are advocating on behalf of all Archives & Special were locked, vehi- sion, benefits, and purchased family insur- yet they will not cover the cost of drugs un- people on CPP Disability benefits who de- Collections, is cles were forcibly ance. Desrosiers also has a small amount of til they’re 65,” McCutcheon said. “It’s not serve the right to universal pharmacare cov- hosting Gateway entered and prop- long-term disability insurance from her last fair.” erage. If it wasn’t for McCutcheon’s good to Greektown: A erty removed. job. While their combined insurance cov- Toronto-Danforth MP Dabrusin said pension and benefits, their situation might Historical Walking Jordon Cox, 20, ered most of Desrosiers’ medications, they universal pharmacare is an important is- be a lot worse. Those on CPP Disability rep- Tour of the Dan- of Toronto, was still paid $1,326.25. sue for which she advocates. She thanked resent a fraction of the population, but they forth. Tours will arrested on March Not all those on CPP Disability are so McCutcheon for bringing her story to her are most in need of support. The March 11 be held Satur- 4 and faces 59 fortunate. In order to qualify for benefits, attention. breakfast was the second meeting Dabrusin day, March 24 at charges, includ- “a person [has to] have a severe and pro- “These stories are extremely helpful for hosted to discuss the 2018 federal budget. 10:30 a.m. and ing 32 counts of 2:30 p.m. and loitering at night Sunday, March 25, and 24 counts of also at 10:30 a.m. theft not exceed- Spate of stabbings reported in East York and 2:30 p.m. ing $5,000. He Attendees should is also charged Cont’d. from page 1 stabbed him multiple times in a bus stop “I thought he got hit by a bus with all the meet at the Pape/ with two counts across from the school. blood but turns out, he got stabbed,” one Danforth Library, of possession The second arrest — of a boy, 16 — Witnesses reportedly came to help the said. 701 Pape Ave. of property not came almost a week later on March 5. victim while the two assailants fled. The The arrested boys appeared in court on To register, go exceeding $5,000 Toronto police had originally responded victim was rushed to the hospital. March 1. to www.myseu- and mischief or to a call about a stabbing in the East York Staff at East York Collegiate were un- Both were charged with attempted mur- moftoronto.com/ damage of prop- area on Feb. 28 at 3:17 p.m. able to discuss the boy’s conditions or the der and one was also charged with robbery programming/ erty not exceed- It is alleged two boys arrived in the Cox- incident due to a non-disclosure agreement. with an offensive weapon and possession gateway-to-greek- ing $5,000. well and Cosburn Avenue area that day Constructions workers across from the of an offensive weapon. town. ~ Jennifer Teixeira looking for a 16-year-old boy who attend- bus stop say they witnessed the aftermath Neither can be named under the Youth ~ Observer staff ed the collegiate. They found the boy and of the scene. Criminal Justice Act. Friday, March 16, 2018 The East York Observer NEWS 3 Proposal to lower voting age gets mixed reaction

By JELA TEJADA said. “And people over 18 ar- The Observer en’t necessarily more knowl- edgeable or mature than those At age 16, Canadians can a year or two younger.” work, drive and file income tax. Councillor Janet Davis But should they be able to cast (Ward 31) is not against lower- a ballot? ing the voting age. She is, how- Beaches-East York MPP Ar- ever, against the timing Potts thur Potts introduced a private chose. She voiced her opinions member’s bill in the Ontario via Twitter. legislature on March 5 propos- “It’s almost an insult to ing that the current voting age n ARTHUR POTTS young people to put this of 18 be lowered to 16. through as a private member’s “Boosting voter turnout is York Young Liberals. He said bill that has no chance at suc- a part of the goal,” Potts said. lowering the voting age is a cess,” Davis said. “If it goes “But it’s more about youth en- “good way for youth to have through, I’ll eat my words, but gagement.” some representation in the de- normally a private member’s Potts gave credit to the mocracy, as well as to encour- bill before the last days of the young Liberals as his inspira- age youth activism across the government has very little tion for the bill. political spectrum.” prospect of success, and that’s “I was asked by youth. Most Potts recalled that when he too bad that (Potts) chose to do of them are in high school,” he was 16, he was president of the it that way.” Photo courtesy of Will Fripp said. “They do all this work Young Liberals Association. Although Davis fully sup- “I just find it rewarding to work with your friends and neighbours,” says Carol and are fully engaged, but they At that age, he said, he was al- ports giving young people the Burtin Fripp, co-president of the Property Owners’ Association. asked me, ‘Why don’t we get ready mature enough to handle chance to vote in elections, to vote?’” responsibilities. she said introducing a private Alex Mulligan, 21, is a “There’s no right or wrong member’s bill at the “11th E.Y. resident to be honoured member of -East vote in the election,” Mulligan hour” is simply “dirty politics.” with Agnes Macphail Award n YOUR SAY Carol Burtin Fripp flattered to have been chosen,” honour Agnes Macphail, who Should the voting age be lowered to 16? Burton Fripp said. “I’m look- was the first woman to be elect- to be recognized for ing forward to the ceremony.” ed to the House of Commons. As the co-president of the It highlights an individual’s her contributions Leaside Property Owners’ As- contribution to the East York sociation, Burton Fripp is re- community. By BRANDON WONG The Observer sponsible for development pro- Previous winners include for- posals and traffic studies. mer East York mayor Alan Red- Carol Burtin Fripp is set to be- Her role became a “full-time way, Rev. Jim Parker of Bethany come the 25th recipient of the involvement” while she was Baptist Church, and Muham- Agnes Macphail Award for her balancing her job as a producer mad Masood Alam, who raised Katie KOMINA Tim SPEARS Saagari COLEMAN contributions to the Leaside at TVO until her retirement in awareness about high-rise safe- ‘Yes. The ones who would ‘No, I don’t think so. Sixteen- ‘Young people have valid community. 2008. ty in his community. vote are the ones who care year-olds are just not mature thoughts and ideas, too, The award ceremony will “I just find it rewarding to “It’s an important award and enough and are probably enough. They’ve still got but it’s hard to say because take place at the East York Civ- work with your friends and she was an important wom- the ones who are aware of some living to do, so allow- sometimes democracy itself ic Centre on March 24, the an- neighbours,” Burton Fripp an,” Burton Fripp said. “Agnes the issues going on in the ing them to vote is just not a likes to see the populist sen- niversary of Macphail’s birth. said. “It’s such a pleasure.” Macphail showed that per- community, so it doesn’t good idea.’ timent, like Trump was elect- “I was initially surprised The East York council au- sistence is worth it and that it really matter how old they ed because a lot of young when I first heard, but I’m very thorized the award in 1994 to pays off.” are.’ people were interested.’ Mayor Tory seeking an external review of missing-persons cases Cont’d. from page 1 changed, and systems have changed. However, activist since 1974, questions Tory’s statement, the way police operate hasn’t changed,” Vijayana- asking “Why not a month ago? Two months ago?” The LGBTQ community started pleading for po- than said. “Being open and honest right now and McCaskell, who has been openly critical of law lice to pay attention after the first two disappear- listening to what people have to say... is the best enforcement since his first days as an activist, says ances linked to McArthur in 2010. way to building trust within the community that’s the case is a “huge black eye” for police and the Three of the missing men were racialized vic- lost it already.” city. tims of Middle Eastern or South Asian origin, two ASAAP suggests that a variety of community Moving forward, he says authorities should “re- of whom - Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40, and Ma- leaders should sit on the external review board and think policing.” jeed Kayhan, 59 - were murdered, police say. dialogues should be held with police to help them “Forty years of fights to try to get proper, inde- Haran Vijayanathan, executive director of understand the issues. pendent civilian oversight of the police and deal- the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Preven- The ultimate goal is to create Toronto’s first ing with complaints and it’s always suspect,” he tion (ASAAP), was one of the first to request a missing-persons bureau, a database that could said. third-party review and internal review on Jan. 28. change the entire system. The bureau would main- “They need to relook at organizational struc- “If we just left it with the internal investigation, tain readily accessible files on all missing persons, ture... so if something like this starts to happen, no change would have come out of it,” he said. speeding up things such as DNA testing, even if a they understand what’s going on, they hear what “An independent external review will say, ‘This is case went cold. people are saying, and can begin to take seriously what actually happened.’” “We can’t continue this way. It’s a broken community concerns.” Police and city officials began meeting with Vi- system. People are going missing regularly and Vijayanathan is optimistic about the third-party jayanathan and his representative, Shakir Rahim, they’re not being found,” Vijayanathan said. review. a law student and ASAAP board member, in early “Whatever system change that we make... has a “Everything happened really quickly, which February. potential impact on not just the LGBTQ commu- we’re really pleased with... I think the mayor is Bobby Hristova/ The Observer City officials thought the relationship between nity, but also every single community across this willing to have that conversation and so is the Det-Sgt. Hank Idsinga is the lead investi- law enforcement and the LGBTQ community was province and this city.” police,” he said. “It’s going to be a never-ending gator in the Bruce McArthur case. During improving, but the delayed police response dam- Despite this, Vijayanathan says a lack of urgen- story for the next few years... we’ll see where it a March 5 press conference, he called the aged any previous trust. cy from police is nothing new. takes us.” case “very disturbing.” “The community has changed, the laws have Tim McCaskell, a prominent Toronto LGBTQ The board will meet on March 22. 4 NEWS Friday, March 16, 2018 The East York Observer n SPECIAL REPORT: MCARTHUR INVESTIGATION What Not speaking out a ‘crippling issue’ happens South Asian and Middle ularly males, report sexual assault, Vi- jayanathan said police aren’t doing a Eastern communities good enough job. when “When the community comes to say need resources for more that there’s something wrong, ‘The cat’s than coming out: expert not being taken care of’ or ‘The dog’s men go not being taken care of, this is unlike By BOBBY HRISTOVA their character,’ and they go to the po- The Observer lice and the right system to complain, missing? then those complaints should be taken By TAYLOR BRIDGER While Toronto police investigate the seriously,” he said. and BOBBY HRISTOVA cases of missing gay men linked to Thawer said the murders and the po- The Observer landscaper Bruce McArthur, a new play lice response have been “terrifying”. about the challenges facing gay South “I think we haven’t had a lot of in- When two men who Asian men debuted at Toronto’s Theatre formation from the police… about frequented Toronto’s Gay Passe Muraille in February. whether or not there was a serial killer, Village went missing in Acha Bacha, by Toronto playwright (if) gay men in the community should 2010, police did not for- Bilal Baig, revolves around Zaya, a be concerned, or what we should do,” mally launch a compre- gay man exploring his identity as a he said. “There’s this experience of our hensive police investi- Muslim and person. Zaya faces community having to rally for itself be- gation. But when a third a choice between working on his rela- cause larger institutions are not there to man, Majeed Kayhan, tionship with his partner or caring for do that.” vanished two years later, his ill mother, who shames him for his But Thawer acknowledges that per- Toronto police began lifestyle. While Zaya’s mother suspects haps police may not know what to do. Project Houston, a task he is gay, he never explicitly comes out “I’m not sure that they understand our force to locate missing to her. He also wrestles with early inci- community well enough to say, ‘Here’s men from Toronto’s dents of abuse by an imam at his reli- what you have to look out for,’” Thawer . gious school. said. “Police or any official institution That investigation Baig insists that he did not write Acha that wants to focus on keeping minority would unknowingly Bacha with the McArthur case in mind, populations safe is going to have to un- expose a series of killings since he created it long before the case derstand those populations, and clearly - the worst in Toronto’s broke. they don’t.” history. Five of the missing men were ra- Vijayanathan’s organization, ASAAP, Yet, the terrifying cialized victims of Middle Eastern and is creating a SAFE program, which trend continued - six South Asian origin, including four who launches Friday. It allows clients to noti- more men missing in the police now say were murdered. fy them of their whereabouts and follow span of seven years - un- While Baig declined to be inter- Bobby Hristova/The Observer up to ensure they are safe - especially til a new police task force viewed on the record about the timeli- Haran Vijayanathan, executive director of the Alliance for South for dates. If they go missing, ASAAP with a new name led to ness of his current play, which ran from Asian AIDS Prevention, speaks out about the challenges facing gay follows up with police. The organization the eventual arrest of a Feb. 1 to 18, it has prompted discussion South Asian men in Toronto who want to come out of the closet. hopes to crowdfund $50,000 to expand suspect, Bruce McArthur, in a community rocked by the serial kill- the pilot project. in January 2018. er case. Rahim Thawer, an organizer at play to be associated with this story. And even then, he says, there are still “A majority of the men were in a After unearthing Salaam Canada, a volunteer association Not speaking out is a crippling issue risks. heterosexual relationship and didn’t human remains belong- helping queer and trans Muslims, says in the community, said Haran Vijaya- Vijayanathan said he helps many cli- have family or friends they could talk ing to some of these his community is “in shock.” nathan, executive director of the Alli- ents who fear they will meet someone to and share where they’re going and missing men, police The play, he says, highlights key ance for South Asian AIDS Prevention connected to their own families and may what they’re doing and that’s something charged McArthur, 66, a community issues. (ASAAP). “For a lot of folks in the send word back home, which could lead ASAAP has recognized we need to former landscaper, with “It talks about our stories in a way South Asian and Middle Eastern com- to estrangement or excommunication. have,” he said. six counts of first-degree that does not shy away from... issues of munity, it’s a little bit harder to leave This pressure forces some to come out ASAAP will request an internal in- murder. shame, issues of abuse, issues of fami- your family and come out of the closet selectively. vestigation on Project Houston and Police later released ly pressure and the complexities of re- and live your life the way you want to Two of the missing men, Skandaraj Project Prism after the investigation the photo of an unknown ligion,” he said from his office in The live it,” he said. Navaratnam, 40 and Abdulbasir Faizi, ends. deceased man who they 519, a community centre located on The obligations which some South 42, hid their identities, family and au- The organization is also demanding a think is also linked to the Church Street in the heart of Toronto’s Asians and others have to their tradition- thorities said. third-party review of how police handle case. gay village. al family values continue to influence “Coming out… depends on their ac- missing persons cases, which both May- More charges are “What’s really difficult to wrap my them, whether they recently immigrated cess. Who do they know, where are they or John Tory and the chair of the Toron- expected, police say. head around is whether or not (the mur- or have been settled in Canada for gen- welcome (and) what feels like a safe to police board have recently supported. As the investigation ders were) racially motivated and wheth- erations. place to access,” Thawer said. “We clearly think there is racism, continues, and while er or not this person thought it would be “I have a friend who was born and However, the community needs re- and classism that played a the public and political less noticeable to target people who are raised here in this country and his fam- sources for more than just coming out, part in how this investigation was con- leaders are trying to racialized and perhaps leverage them ily pressured him into getting married experts say. When relationships be- ducted,” Vijayanathan said. “We are not understand how this not being as out as other people and that even though he came out to them… and tween gay men turn abusive, it is espe- going to step back on this.” could have happened, emotional vulnerability,” Thawer said. he’s married,” Vijayanathan said in an cially volatile for visible minorities. Det.-Sgt. Hank Idsinga, the lead de- attention is now on the The playwright, Baig, has a record of interview. “If one person has citizenship sta- tective on the Bruce McArthur case, re- fallout that the murders commenting on social issues involving “It’s highly common. We work with tus, (and) the other person doesn’t, sponded to AASAP’s concern during a have had on the city’s gender and diversity impacting young a lot of international students who use there’s opportunity for abuse to hap- press conference on March 5. gay community. South Asians. However, Baig told the coming here as a student as an escape to pen,” Vijayanathan said. “If people want to look at what we’ve Toronto Observer he didn’t want the safely explore who they are.” Even worse, when victims, partic- done, I welcome that,” he said. @ Alleged serial killer has been charged with the murders of these six men O l To see our full Special Report on the McArthur case, check us out online at torontoob- server.ca n SOURESH n SELIM n MAJEED n ANDREW n DEAN n SKANDARAJ MAHMUDI ESEN KAYHAN KINSMEN LISOWICK NAVARATNAM Friday, March 16, 2018 The East York Observer NEWS 5 n SPECIAL REPORT: MCARTHUR INVESTIGATION Serial killer experts debunk stereotypes Sasha Reid, Michael Arntfield, Such a broad definition with so much irrele- vant data can inhibit the ability of people who Michael Shane explain the study serial killers to do proper research. To combat this, Reid has created a new definition psychology behind what drives for serial killer which she hopes researchers serial killers to do what they do will use without getting needlessly lost in a sea of police records. By SERGIO ARANGIO Her definition, called “compulsive criminal The Observer homicide,” sets the minimum criteria for se- rial killing at two murders and one attempted Paul Bernardo. Robert Pickton. Clifford Ol- murder. It also makes the distinction that serial son. The list of notorious Canadian serial kill- murderers use self-gratification as a baseline ers may soon have another name added, with motivation. the high-profile murders and disappearances of Reid hopes that having clear-cut criteria men from Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village. “created by academics, for academics” will Experts who study serial killers are now help researchers get consistent data, so they weighing in on the habits and personality of can focus on studying the people that give the the former Toronto landscaper who stands term “serial killer” its meaning. charged with six murders of local gay men. This will, in turn, make police investiga- Sasha Reid, a PhD candidate in applied psy- tions more efficient, she said, as they consult chology and an expert in psychopathic serial with criminologists about the data they collect killers, says killing can come quite easily to on serial murderers. certain people, particularly psychopaths. “They only care about themselves,” she said Issues with investigation in an interview at her University of Toronto office. Arntfield has gripes with Toronto police’s Canada has seen around 60 serial killers in handling of their gay village investigations, its history, according to a report from Radford Sergio Arangio/The Observer and their failure to admit they had a serial kill- University. Of those, some of the country’s Sasha Reid, who researches serial killers, says police need clearer guidelines er on their hands. most notorious murderers, like Bernardo and when investigating potential suspects. “In Canada, (police are) very scared to use Pickton, have also been diagnosed as psycho- the term,” he said. paths. But Reid pointed out that it is not nec- chology professor Matthew Shane, who is also between murders, he said. During this time, Arntfield said a perfect example of how a essarily the case for all of them. an assistant dean at the University of Ontario they find other ways of “compensating for police force should operate was a case of a se- The gold standard for diagnosing psycho- Institute of Technology. their urges,” but there is eventually a personal rial shooter in Tampa Bay, Fla. in November paths is the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Re- “They don’t kill people unless they get trigger that brings them back to bloodlust. 2017. He highlighted how the local police de- vised (PCL-R). It was developed by Canadian something out of it,” he said. As one can imagine, it is not very easy to kill partment warned the public of a serial killer criminal psychology researcher Dr. Robert Even so, a serial murderer is not born that someone and get away with it. Which is why, in their midst, which kept the community on Hare in the 1970s. Now in its second edition, way, as Reid points out. She explained that the as Reid explained, serial killers must be cal- alert. According to Fox News, it led to 5,000 the checklist rates a subject on 20 items such development of a serial killer can stem from culated in where they choose to kill and then tips being sent to police, one of which led to as superficial charm, lack of guilt and lack of a poor relationship with parents or guardians, hide their victims. Oftentimes, she said, people the suspected gunman’s arrest. remorse. The subject is interviewed by a psy- which keeps them from having warm, caring who target members of the LGBTQ commu- If Toronto officers had had a similar chologist and scored from zero to two on each personality traits, and developing social ties nity lure their victims home or get invited to mentality, Arntfield said, an arrest in the item (zero is weak, one is somewhat, two is with people. This leads to them turning inward their victim’s home before killing them. Church-Wellesley murders could have been strong). If the subject’s score reaches 30 or and fantasizing about a world where they have The suspect could have picked victims from made much faster. He added that police should higher, that person is classified as a clinical power, control and domination. the Church and Wellesley area easily since the have done a better job of looking into the Vil- psychopath. Anyone can experience this and not become killer would have been very familiar with the lage’s missing persons cases early on. While psychopaths make up only one per violent, but serial killers do, Reid explained, community. However, as to why the specific “These were not treated and investigated as cent of the general population, Reid said the while glancing at a photo of Ted Bundy pinned victims were murdered, Reid theorized that suspicious until Project Houston was formed. proportion of psychopathic serial killers is to her office wall, and it is usually due to a they could have been easy targets. And then it disbanded.” much larger. She admits, however, that it’s strong sexual desire. At some point down the “Some people choose strangers; some peo- Project Houston was assembled by Toron- hard to know just how many psychopathic se- line, they cannot keep these urges under con- ple choose acquaintances. It’s just whatever is to police to investigate the disappearances of rial murderers there are. trol. convenient at that time,” she said. Skandaraj Navaratnam, Majeed Kayhan and “(Some) never see a psychiatrist, and so we After committing the act, serial murderers Abdulbasir Faizi. The project shut down in would never know whether they were psycho- From fantasy to reality tend to hide the bodies at home or nearby, so April 2014 due to insufficient evidence. paths or not,” she said. they can relive the experience. Reid said many Arntfield compared it to how Niagara police Michael Arntfield, a former London, Ont. “Fantasy is not enough for them,” Reid said. serial killers like to hide bodies outdoors. She badly handled disappearances and murders police officer, criminologist and expert in se- They start feeling the need to live out their de- is still trying to figure out why that is. that would later be connected to Paul Bernar- rial killers, proposes that the suspect in the To- sires by committing small crimes, and then be- Prior to the arrest of Bruce McArthur, the do. ronto case may very well be a psychopath, too. come increasingly violent, eventually leading Church-Wellesley community had been very The solution to overlooking strange groups “The telltale indicator ... is the fact that (the to outright homicide. outspoken in its attempts to push Toronto of disappearances can be as simple as better suspect is) dismembering the bodies,” the as- “Some people will fantasize for years or de- police in the right direction. Their cries of a training for officers, he said, and proper dis- sociate professor at the University of Western cades before they act,” she said. possible serial killer in the gay village were tribution of workloads so that public concerns Ontario said. “This is extremely rare.” Arntfield, who has written books on crime discounted, at least publicly, by police. are taken seriously. Once they are, police must The remains of seven people have been and serial killers, said a major red flag is a his- Even following McArthur’s arrest, Det. be able to put the pieces of missing person cas- found in planters at a Leaside home. Three of tory of making obscene phone calls to people. Hank Idsinga dismissed “serial killer” as a es together in order to find out if a serial killer the victims have since been identified by po- “That is actually an antecedent to often very “media term” during a news conference in is behind them. lice as Andrew Kinsman, Soroush Mahmudi, sadistic behaviour,” he said, adding that the January 2018. Many activists have slammed Reid said she will continue with her re- and Skandaraj Navaratnam. The four remain- joy a person gets by terrorizing strangers on the lack of transparency and the fact that the search to discover exactly what motivates ing victims have not been identified. the phone leads them to become more confi- police didn’t issue warnings to the gay com- people to commit these heinous acts. She has Arntfield said the act of hiding a victim’s dent, adventurous and dangerous. munity that there was a predator in their midst. developed a missing person’s database and a body parts in planters outside people’s homes Serial killers come in a variety of forms, as Researchers say part of the problem is that serial homicide database that can be used to is extremely rare – even for a phenomenon like Arntfield’s research shows. One category of police forces must have a better definition of identify strange disappearances and make pro- serial murder. This suggests a more emotional serial murderer is what he calls “The Poacher” what a serial murderer is. The FBI defines se- files of potential killers. and sexual drive, he said, as well as a sort of or “The Commuter Killer.” This person choos- rial murder as “the unlawful killing of two or Reid hopes to one day make it public to help performance by hiding the victims right under es a career that allows them to be mobile, so more victims by the same offender(s), in sep- people recognize unsettling patterns in missing people’s noses. they can conceal their more sinister actions as arate events.” person’s cases and cross-reference them with a “That would … provide them with a great they move from place to place. What bothers Reid is the ambiguity of that database of thousands of serial killers to create sense of power,” he said. “A job on the road, whether it’s as a truck- definition. a profile of a person who may be responsible. While psychopathy may make it easier to er or a travelling salesman, is among the best “Gang members would fit within the FBI defi- Having spent a decade studying serial kill- murder, what sets serial killers apart from the covers,” he said. nition of serial homicide,” she said. “So, too, ers, she believes having comprehensive data to rest of society is an urge to commit horrible As they claim their victims, Arntfield said, would a hitman, or a whole range of people who look through is the key to putting pieces to- acts and possibly take pleasure in doing so, they tend to space out their murders over time. for whatever reason commit two (or more) homi- gether that will “speed up investigations and experts say. That’s the view of forensic psy- Serial killers experience a cooling-off period cides in separate events over a period of time.” make them more effective.” 6 OPINION Friday, March 16, 2018 The East York Observer n COLUMNS n EDITORIALS The commoners’ everyman Plain-talking populist Doug That didn’t stop him from be grandparents - into the Crossing guards Ford is the new Progressive running for mayor in Toronto discussion. Have I really been Conservative leader of On- in 2014, publicly floating the living in that oft-discussed tario, ushered in a few short idea of running again this progressive bubble? I hadn’t months before the election. year, and considering seeking thought so. This outsider, the common- the nomination as a Tory My income is suffi- put safety first ers’ everyman and every man’s MPP candidate in June. ciently low, and until re- common man, the little guy Party bosses didn’t cently I shared the plight Toronto needs more crossing guards. who’s had enough, is expect- seem to agree, so they let of many Torontonians, Crossing busy city streets can be dangerous, especially for young students who, like ed to deliver Toronto to the him take over the whole spending more than half all Toronto pedestrians, must deal with speeding cars, stopping just before a crosswalk or Ontario Progressive Conser- party. of it on rent. My job racing through before those on foot have made it to the other side. vatives. Sound familiar? is dirty and phys- Early this year, Toronto.com reported that crossing guard Amir Siyani was absent from It looks like the PCs are It certainly plays ical and I work Donlands Avenue and Plains Road in East York. According to Toronto Police Traffic taking a page out of Donald into Ford’s angry around plenty of Services, the crossing guard retired. Trump’s The Art of The Deal, outsider brand. small-c conserva- However, the report states the crossing guard was removed following a four-day sur- or at least hoping for enough Previously, tives, but I didn’t vey of the intersection that determined a guard was unwarranted. It’s an intersection used angry reactionaries to come Ford has defined think there was by East York children on their journey to and from school. out to polling booths June 7. himself as a fiscal the level of par- The loss of this position was just one of the cutbacks contributing to a crossing-guard The Star has tentatively conservative, but anoia and mis- shortage across the city. predicted a win for the party more recently he placed animosity In areas where there are no crossing guards, police often have to stop while on duty to led by the former has touted his that characterizes help children cross the street. North councillor and older social conser- American politics Compared to the reported six-figure salary of many Toronto police officers, the brother of the late Toronto vatism as well, in the Trump era. approximate $14 per hour that crossing guards receive for the four and a half hours they mayor Rob Ford. promising to scrap Yet the PCs work per day is a cost-effective solution. Doug Ford, 53, the middle the Liberals’ sex- decided Doug Ford Siyani has returned to his intersection, following a petition signed by parents and other son of a millionaire business- ed curriculum. was the most likely community members concerned about children’s safety. What about the rest of the city’s man-politician, previously He claims not to candidate to defeat the children? hosted a radio show on New- wish to revisit the far- from-unbeatable The Toronto District School Board is the largest in the country, with about 172,000 stalk 1010 and tried his hand abortion debate but Kathleen Wynne. elementary school students. Under the Toronto Catholic District School Board, there are at television with Sun TV. wants to invite Are their fingers 61,173 elementary students. He claimed to hate politics, the parents of closer to the pulse of real, The total number of elementary schools in Toronto is 633, but Toronto Police Traffic sayin he couldn’t wait to get minors who authentic, hardworking Services only employs 600 school crossing guards. back to running the business are preg- Ontarians? Crossing guards are a necessity. he inherited, Deco Labels and nant – the Erik Twight We’ll soon This year, 11 pedestrians have died due to collisions, according to Toronto Police Tags. would- find out. Services’ traffic statistics. Speed limits and pedestrian crossing signals are not enough to protect Toronto chil- dren. Hire and deploy more crossing guards. Real Olympic champ? Hockey ~ Shayelle Smith When the National Hockey would’ve been its third con- Olympics, would be elimi- League announced on April secutive gold medal. But when nated in the quarterfinals by 3, 2017, that its players would we put national bias aside, the the Czech Republic? Did not be allowed to participate tournament did more benefit to you predict Germany, a team in the 2018 Olympics, viewers hockey than harm. who had never medalled in Walking the walk were not amused. Take the enhanced unpre- hockey, would beat 2006 gold There was disapproval from dictability. For most interna- medallists Sweden and hockey fans, hockey analysts, and tional hockey tournaments, powerhouse Canada en route even some of the league’s top you don’t need a genius to tell to silver? players. you who is going to win. With The absence of NHL players is one way to help The resulting the likes of Sidney Crosby and brought a sense of unpredict- event was called a Jonathan Toews playing for ability and a belief among What if you hosted a safety walk and no one showed up? “can-miss.” Some Canada and Alex Ovechkin teams that anybody could go That’s almost what happened to Ward 31 Councillor Janet Davis, who was disappoint- wondered who in and Evgeni Malkin suiting up far; that you didn’t need to be a ed with the “very low” turnout for the community initiative at Stan Wadlow Park on their right for Russia, you’re almost Canada or a Russia or a U.S.A. March 7. mind would guaranteed a win for to have a chance. Perhaps there’s good news in the lack of interest. Maybe, as Davis believes, it means wake up in the beavers or the It also increased the level East York residents feel safe, despite the fact that 15-year-old Isaiah Watt was fatally the early bears. of competitiveness. Without stabbed in the park last October. hours This time, NHL players, there was a lack It’s just as likely, though, that most East Yorkers weren’t aware of the walk, or the two of the although Canada of stars. Everybody had some or three that have been held previously. So, for those who weren’t aware, the March walk morn- was considered a sort of label on them, from was held in response to Watt’s death and to collect suggestions to make the park safer for ing to favourite and the nonentity to wasted potential residents. watch Olympic Athletes to has-been. Everybody had The walk is actually part of a survey, called a Crime Prevention Through Environ- what would from Russia ulti- something to prove, and this mental Design audit, that aims to determine areas of the park that are unsafe, from an essentially be mately won the gold was their moment to prove it. environmental design perspective. teams of nobodies medal, it was difficult We may not have seen Stan- The team looks for areas that require additional lighting or video surveillance, among take the ice. knowing for certain ley Cup-winning, multi-mil- other things. Now, with the who would finish on lion-dollar-making players Davis is already talking about improvements to the lighting to make the park more Olympics having top and who would participate in what is basically visible to residents and to Toronto Police. come and gone, it’s be a flop. a friendly tournament amid That’s great - for this park and for any areas where neighbours gather. fair to say the compe- Be honest. Did their 82-game NHL schedule. But the real win will be to get more residents involved in safety walks and other ef- tition was enjoyable in you think the But what we did see was heart, forts to improve safety, and take away the need for these walks in the first place. its own right. Americans, determination, and a defiance Ask yourself, “What can I do to make my neighbourhood safer?” Share your ideas Don’t get me wrong. finalists at of the odds among the athletes. with your neighbours, and with your city councillor. It sucked see- two of And at the end of the day, ~ Jennifer Texeira ing Canada Mouhamad Rachini the last isn’t that what the Olympics not win what four are all about?

The East York The East York Observer is published by Centennial College journalism students at the East York campus, 951 Carlaw FACULTY EDITORS MANAGING EDITOR PRODUCTION EDITOR Ave., Rm. 149. Mailing address: P.O. Box 631, Stn. A, Eric McMillan Alex Goudge Jela Tejada Toronto, M1K 5E9. E-mail c/o [email protected]. Lindy Oughtred PHOTO EDITOR Telephone 416-289-5107, fax 416-289-5111. We welcome John Sakamoto Nida Zafar OBSERVER your input, including letters to the editor. Friday,Friday, MarchDecember 16, 2018 15, 2017 The EastThe EastYork York Observer Observer FEATURES 7 Shack evolves into Pape Station

City of Toronto Archives Tijuana Turner/The Observer The Lipton Loop shelter that once stood at the end of the East York Transportation System (left) has long been replaced by an entrance to the Pape Subway station (right). The building shown in the 1931 photo is a rustic transportation hub. Eighty-seven years later, thousands of visitors pass through the site each day. LGBTQ workshop helps young writers tell their stories Workshop leader sees surge in The magazine consists of writing and art pieces created and selected by a group of youth. LGBTQ characters and writers This event came about after a youth requested a workshop, said Michael Warner, the Youth Ser- By NIDA ZAFAR vice Specialist at the Pape/Danforth branch. “As The Observer much as possible, we like to get youth input on the programs being offered. It was such a unique Writing a story seems like an easily achievable idea and definitely an underserved community.” task for most. But according to author Kai Cheng Unfortunately, only two attendees showed up, Thom, LGBTQ writers face many roadblocks making for an intimate workshop. when developing their voice in their writing. Warner said the low attendance isn’t surpris- As a social worker, Thom finds that LGBTQ ing. “There may be a lot of teens that may not individuals are at a higher risk of grappling with want to self-identify as queer or come out to an mental health issues. event like this,” he said. She says this is because of things like bullying The event was held for, but not limited to, peo- and discrimination. ple between the ages of 13 and 17. This important That “impacts LGBT writers’ ability to move age in the developmental cycle for adolescents is through life in a comfortable and easy way, as a high-risk zone for mental health issues, Thom all of us deserve,” she said. “Specifically, in the said. “At that age, you’re developing a sexuality, writing industry… there’s often a belief that only opinions… (and) you’re becoming independent LGBT people will want to read LGBT stories, so from your parents. So essentially you’re becom- a lot of the major publishers have been hesitant to ing an adult, but you don’t have the power or the publish that kind of work.” experience of an adult…so there’s a high vulner- On March 12, Toronto Public Library’s youth ability.” group, Young Voices, held a workshop on helping Even though LGBTQ writers face these daily young writers develop queer fictional characters. struggles that affect their writing, there are a lot The event was held at the Pape/Danforth branch more LGBTQ publications than there were when and was hosted by Thom, who also does spoken Thom was a teenager. word and is the recipient of the 2017 Dayne Ogil- “I’m happy to say that, in young adult fiction Nida Zafar / The Observer vie Prize for LGBTQ Emerging Writers award. in particular, we’re seeing a great surge of LGBT Young Voices hosts writing conferences and characters, LGBT writers and LGBT stories The event, hosted by author Kai Cheng Thom, focused on creating realistic and workshops and publishes an annual magazine. emerging.” compelling queer characters. Staff at Toronto high schools to begin opioid-overdose training

By FRAN MBADIWE cording to its Opioid Overdose Pre- The board should be finished train- to promote public education about tariat. Also included was how to reg- The Observer vention Plan, is in response to the ing staff in its 112 secondary schools overdose prevention and response for ister for TPH overdose training. City of Toronto’s action plan on the before the end of April. high school students, including in- According to statistics by the City The Toronto District School Board rise of overdoses. In addition to overdose-response forming students how they can obtain of Toronto, naloxone is administered will train secondary school staff to re- Toronto’s annual opioid toxici- training, each school will have at naloxone. by a community member before para- spond to opioid overdoses. ty death count has been rising since least two staff who hold a standard TPH’s medical officer of health medic arrival in an average of 11 The board voted on Feb. 7 to pro- 2013, with fentanyl and heroin now first aid certificate and CPR training sent communications to all Toronto non-fatal opioid overdose cases per vide every secondary school with leading in lives claimed. certificate. school boards last fall with informa- week. a naloxone kit, as part of an over- “We’re looking to begin schedul- “A number of TDSB staff have tion about overdose prevention and Paramedics administer naloxone in dose-prevention plan implemented ing the training once staff return from received training organized through response. Students and caregivers an average of nine non-fatal cases per November 2017. Naloxone is a medi- March Break next week,” said Ryan Toronto Public Health, and they will, were addressed in letters. week. cation used to block the effects of opi- Bird, spokesperson for the TDSB. in turn, train the two to three staff “Included was information on how For more opioid or overdose sta- oids and is able to temporarily reverse “Following the completion of that members at each secondary school,” they could obtain naloxone,” said Su- tistics, visit TPH’s Toronto Overdose the effects of an overdose. training, naloxone kits will be distrib- Bird said. san Shepherd, TPH spokesperson and Information System website through The school board’s initiative, ac- uted to schools.” Toronto Public Health is working manager of the Drug Strategy Secre- toronto.ca. 8 NEWS Friday, March 16, 2018 The East York Observer Riverdale ‘It’ house is one hot property 116-year-old Cranfield House played big role in Stephen King movie ‘It,’ now in demand from filmmakers and developers

By BRANDON WONG The Observer

It has taken star turns in Orphan Black, Desig- nated Survivor and Fahrenheit 451. Last fall, it scared the wits out of movie au- diences as a dark, creaky, cobwebbed home to Pennywise the Dancing Clown in Stephen King’s horror blockbuster It. Built in 1902, the two-storey Cranfield House at the northwest corner of Pape and Riverdale avenues is in greater demand than ever. “There have been 11 productions that have been issued permits to film there since 2015,” said Shane Gerard, a spokesman for the City of Toronto. That popularity has brought complaints from some local residents about inconvenienc- es during film production, including noise and road closures. However, Gene Lee, owner of Atomic Age Comics on Pape Avenue near Bain Avenue, isn’t one of them. “I haven’t experienced any inconveniences due to filming at the Cranfield House,” said Lee, who sees the film industry as just “regular people going to work and doing their jobs. “I think film productions are good for the Brandon Wong/The Observer film community. They provide jobs for people The 116-year-old Cranfield House, located at Pape and Riverdale avenues, has been featured in multiple film and TV pro- who are in the film industry who do, in turn, ductions. The house is also protected under the Ontario Heritage Act (see below). spend their money in their communities, so you could say the industry is good for the com- has been no formal announcement on the con- munity as a whole.” dos,” Michaelidis said. The mansion has also been a target for de- Redeveloping the Cranfield House is com- velopers. plicated because it is protected under the On- “It’s a hot commodity,” said Anna Mi- tario Heritage Act. chaelidis, owner of Royal LePage Urban Re- “That makes it difficult for developers to ality. remodel it and maintain its historical signifi- “The neighbourhood is amazing, and it’s cance,” Michaelidis said. a sought-after location that local developers The lack of attention paid to the aging build- have been looking at. ing does not sit well with Councillor Paula “There were talks recently about a deal to Fletcher, Ward 30 (Toronto-Danforth), who purchase the house for $3 million, but it wasn’t said she “would look forward to it being re- confirmed and it is possible the deal just fell stored at the earliest possible time.” apart.” She added that it’s “under private ownership Plans to redevelop the area with a 28-unit now and the city doesn’t have any control over condominium have also surfaced, but “there private owners.”

n HEALTH AND SAFETY If you see a raccoon acting strangely, it could be distemper Hundreds of cases of distemper in East York have been “We had a raccoon looking to get reported. into our house about a month ago. It CDV reported over last There have been no cases of rac- was pacing back and forth for over coon rabies in Toronto, said Tammy three hours,” said Effie Papadopou- few years in Toronto Robinson, spokesperson for Toron- los, who called Toronto Animal Ser- to Animal Services. However, the vices. By TRISHA SALES animals could be affected by CDV, “We could see that its eyes were The Observer which exists within the raccoon pop- full of pus,” but the animal had gone The illness that sparked a local report ulation in low . by the time the city arrived, she said. of a raccoon biting a man’s boots “They may behave aggressive- Sick raccoons are euthanized after could be one that can also affect ly if they are sick, disturbed from being captured. dogs: Canine Distemper Virus. their den, are being protective or feel “There is a zero chance of survival There have been hundreds of cases threatened,” Robinson said. for a raccoon with distemper, so the of raccoon distemper in the last few Abnormal raccoon behaviour in- most humane thing to do was to euth- years in Toronto. The disease had led cludes seizures, chewing fits, and anize it,” Robinson said. many people to believe that the cause walking blindly. They might also In 2015, there was a rise in CDV was rabies. have mucus around the nose and cases among the raccoon population In a Feb. 11 incident in Scarbor- eyes. Robinson’s advice if you see in the GTA, but that has levelled off. ough, a man was chased by a rac- a raccoon reacting abnormally: Call Despite the virus’s name, it is not coon. The Animal Services’ dispatch 311. Do not feed it or make contact. that common for dogs to be infected, Photo by Fotolia officer was told the animal bit the toe One east York resident encoun- since most are vaccinated. Symp- Symptoms of distemper in raccoons include seizures, chew- of his boots. tered a raccoon with similar symp- toms can include vomiting, diarrhea, ing fits and walking blindly, animal control officials say. Similar encounters with raccoon toms. fever, coughing and thick mucus.