MAYORAL OPINIONS: George Smitherman CRICKET LEGEND: Mudassar Nazar holds and other candidates share 2015 visions auditions See page 3 See page 8 THE EAST TORONTO • Friday • April 9 • 2010 • OBSERVEROBSERVER • PUBLISHED BY UTSC/CENTENNIAL COLLEGE JOURNALISM STUDENTS AND SERVING MALVERN, HIGHLAND CREEK AND WEST HILL • •TORONTOOBSERVER.CA• Murders FAST FORWARD FIVE YEARS lead cops to A special report on how our community will change by 2015 weapons, explosives Kimberlee NaNceKivell The Observer Durham Regional Police are investigating the connec‑ tion between explosives and weapons found at Dayton Self Storage on March 31 and a double murder last spring. The discovery was “part of an ongoing investigation” and no further details are be‑ ing released at this time, po‑ lice spokespman Sgt. Dave Selby said. Police revealed on April 1 that the murders of Puneet Singh Chhina, 26, and Har‑ jinder Singh Sandhu, 28 ‑ whose bodies were found in the trunk of a car in Picker‑ ing last May ‑ led them to the storage unit at Kennedy Road and Progress Avenue. The Durham Police major crime unit executed a search warrant around 6:30 p.m. and found weapons and ex‑ plosives inside. Details con‑ TWO VISIONS: Will Scarborough be revitalized by the impending Pan Am Games or will the area sink further into hardship? Articles in this issue cerning the type of weapons turn a critical spotlight on our community’s future, and see the special reports on Pages 3–5. or explosives have not been released. The area was evacuated for investigation, halting TTC Removing obstacles to food access in Scarborough and GO Transit service. Police called the Emer‑ City’s strategy aims to integrate and vegetables to residents at gency Task Force explosives a subsidized cost, began 16 unit to the scene before con‑ years ago as a way to address taining the materials in a steel food security into planning Toronto’s food security gap. drum for transport. “The program feels pretty Highway 401 was closed a m Nda KwaN permanent to us,” said Paul around 9 p.m. from Kennedy The Observer and kitchens, and educating residents about healthy eating. DeCampo, Good Food pro‑ Road to the Don Valley Park‑ Lack of transportation is Last month Dorfman gram manager. “It’s some‑ way while police took the the main obstacle to people spoke with a group of seniors thing that’s grown exponen‑ drum to the Leslie Street Spit. getting healthy food in Scar‑ in Malvern about where they tially.” The contents were then deto‑ borough, says Peter Dorf‑ go to get groceries. Those Today, they distribute nated shortly after 11 p.m. man, a manager in the city’s living in the heart of Malvern 5,000 boxes a month through Residents as far away as health department. told him they just walked to 200 neighbourhood drop‑off Pharmacy Avenue reported “The number of people the local Food Basics. centres. hearing and feeling the ex‑ in high‑priority neighbour‑ But residents who don’t “The food strategy is a sig‑ plosion. hoods without cars is much live near it had to rely on nificant moment because it’s “It must have been pretty higher than other parts of the their children to take them encouraging the city to be powerful explosives because city,” he said. “And there’s shopping, Dorfman said. thinking food first,” said An‑ it shook my house and woke often many seniors and peo‑ “That’s okay. But what gela ElzingaCheng of Toron‑ me up,” Scarborough resi‑ ple who are already dealing do you do if you don’t have to Food Animators, a group dent Wendy Winters said. with multiple challenges in kids or your kids don’t have that works with local agen‑ John Le and Vijay Singh priority neighbourhoods.” a car?” a m Nda KwaN/The Observer cies and residents in Toron‑ both face charges of first‑de‑ He was responding to a One of the solutions identi‑ Anna Wilson, a student at UTSC, unloads fresh produce to’s priority neighbouhoods gree murder, kidnapping, and February preliminary report fied in the city’s strategy is to from a Good Food box. to start food projects. forcible confinement in con‑ on Toronto’s first food strat‑ encourage more food stores The group worked with nection to the murders, but egy intiative by the public along transit lines. The plan also looks to en‑ as well, Dorfman said. residents at Gordonridge no arrests have been made in health department. “We’re increasingly trying courage the growth of food The city is also looking to Place, a Toronto Communi‑ connection with the explo‑ The study aims to integrate to organize the city around markets around the city. introduce food trucks that go ty Housing Corporation resi‑ sives and weapons. food security into city plan‑ transit,” Dorfman said. Montreal has food stands around neighbourhoods sell‑ dence in Scarborough, to set ning, linking public transit to “When there’s new growth, selling fresh produce outside ing fresh produce. up a community garden. To see a map and a timeline grocery stores, building com‑ we should be thinking about some subway stations, a sys‑ The Good Food Box, a pro‑ of events, visit munity centres with gardens access to food.” tem Toronto can implement gram that provides fresh fruits See beTTer, Page 2 torontoobserver.ca PAGE 2 - The East Toronto Observer, April 9, 2010 NEWS News Kingston Rd. requires facelift: residents Briefs Restoration needed to Hospital hosts reduce trash hockey cup The Scarborough Hospital and traffic Foundation is hosting the Peter Zezel Cup event to Billy CourtiCe raise money for the hospital. Josh ungar Registered teams will face The Observer off against former NHL players on April 9 at the Three months ago, the Angus Glen Community manager of the Idlewood Inn Centre in Markham. The called the city to complain event is named after the about an ugly, allegedly non- former Toronto Maple Leaf compliant sign that was put player and Scarborough up by the used-car dealership native who died of a rare beside her Kingston Road lot. blood disorder. To register, Looking out of her win- call 416-431-8130 or email Josh ungar The Observer dow today, Lisa Fritz is dis- / [email protected] or register appointed to see nothing has A guest stands outside of The East Side Motel on Kingston Road and Eglinton Avenue, beside a trash-filled car. online at tsh.to. changed. “They put the cars right on “According to our staff, most said. means of funding, but has the appearance of Kingston my lawn, they stick up non- businesses are complying Better enforcement is still not been completed. Mo- Road may have more than a compliant signs,” Fritz said. with the bylaws.” needed to help improve con- eser said he hopes the Pan superficial effect. Company for “I phoned to complain about Area residents, however, ditions in the area. Am Games will speed up the “It’s a good area, it just the sign in January. I don’t are not so sure. “It would improve busi- process. needs some happiness and seniors needed see anything being done.” The plazas and parking ness if they clean up the “[The games] will be very colour,” Fritz said. “It’s quite According to residents and lots are dirty and disgusting, area,” Fritz said. “I see traffic beneficial. They will create bland.” Bendale Acres is seeking business owners, it is the dirty said local resi- police, but I don’t partnerships with the com- “When things look ill- mature adult volunteers to lots, ugly signage and exces- dents Marianne see too many in- munity and generate $152 kept, you get trouble,” Mari- work with seniors. Volun- sive litter that is preventing and Margaret, It’s a good spectors.” million,” Moeser said. “The anne said. “Physically mak- teers would be asked to Kingston Road from bolster- who didn’t want The city is community will have access ing it look prettier would fulfill occasional duties such ing its reputation. With the their last names area, it just looking to ad- to the facilities.” definitely help.” as friendly visits, escorting 2015 Pan Am Games fast ap- published. “They needs some dress residents’ While Moeser reiterated the senior to special events, proaching, Scarborough will look dumpy, they happiness concerns with improving appearances that some of the businesses keep the senior company be under more international keep the [lots] the March 2009 are finally starting to clean up and assist them in other scrutiny than ever. like garbage,” and colour Kingston Road The plan suggests replac- and the area is looking better, ways. Training and orienta- Margaret said. - Lisa Fritz Initiative – Action ing existing buildings along he hopes the added attention tion is provided. Call Selena Making headway Margaret has Report, which Kingston Road with highrise from the games will take the Lynch at 416-397-7058 been a Scarbor- outlines the de- condominiums and improv- area to the next level. or email her at slynch@ But headway is being ough Village resident for 26 tailed plans for the stretch ing public space with a host According to Fritz, the in- toronto.ca for information. made in beautifying Kings- years, while Marianne moved of Kingston Road between of new parkettes and bench- creased traffic flow from the ton Road, according to Bill to the area from the Upper Port Union Road and Victo- es. games should cause a “mini- Blakes, manager of the Scar- Beaches nearly two decades ria Park Avenue. According “We’re hoping we can boom” for local businesses borough district office for ago.