ww The East York MAKING MERRY IN EAST YORK n It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas OBSERVER Page 5 Serving our community since 1972 Vol. 43, No. 12 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, December 5, 2014 n FATAL FIRE Triple murder shocks East York Abused woman fighting for custody of two sons, women’s shelter reveals By ERICA RAE CHONG The Observer A woman killed in Saturday’s triple homicide was trying to leave a violent relationship and was fighting for custody Stephanie Hinds /// The Observer of her kids, according to a spokesperson for Dr. Roz’s Healing Place, an abused Fire officials are still investigating, after a Withrow Avenue house was reduced to rubble in a three-alarm blaze women’s centre. on Nov. 21. The occupant, an 81-year-old woman, was found dead on the remains of the main floor. The woman was one of three victims found dead around 4:45 p.m. on Satur- day on the third floor of an apartment building at 85 Thorncliffe Park Dr. Police publicly identified the victims on ‘I saw the fire from a window’ Monday as Zahra Mohamoud Abdille, 43, and her two sons Faris Abdille, 13, HGTV host summons Kostiuk confirmed that firefighters Fire officials say the blaze like- back and saw all the commotion, and Zain Abdille, 8. found the woman’s body on what ly began in the basement or on the that’s when I found out,” says Ta- Police discovered the grisly scene help as neighbour’s was left of the home’s main floor. first floor of the home. It burned so hir Hiro, who lives on Bain Ave- shortly after a man fell to his death onto It is believed the owner of the intensely that the roof collapsed, nue, one street north of Withrow. the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) less than home burns to ground home, whom area residents iden- and homes on either side of it will The fire was completely out by two kilometres away. tified as Andjelka Starcevich, was also need repair. The siding of one noon, but emergency vehicles re- The man was identified on Wednesday By STEPHANIE HINDS a hoarder. home began to peel due to the heat. mained on the scene for much of as Yusuf Abdille, the husband and father The Observer “She was at the front of the build- The entire side of the other home the day. of the murder victims. ing, ground floor, much like we is being replaced, and the front Then a forensic identification Abdille reportedly stayed at the Two local house fires in recent suspected,” Kostiuk told reporters. window had to be broken during a specialist and a crane arrived to as- centre’s shelter between July 10 and weeks have left one woman dead “She was said to have been using a rescue effort. There is visible soot sist in lifting the debris and search- July 23 last year while she battled for and raised concerns about safety walker, so we didn’t think she’d be and ash on the exterior of both ing for the body. custody over her sons. Her efforts were and hoarding. up in one of the bedrooms.” homes. While there is no indication that unsuccessful and she was forced to seek In the first case, an 81-year-old Sebastian Clovis, a Withrow Av- As the fire on Withrow escalated the fire is suspicious in origin, a place to live on the private market, woman was found dead in the rub- enue resident, was awakened by from a two-alarm to a three-alarm there is still a lot of investigating as she did not qualify for affordable ble of her East York-area home af- the light of the blaze. blaze, firefighters were called from left to do. housing due to her income. It is unclear ter a three-alarm blaze on Nov. 21. “I saw the fire from a window another fire downtown to assist in “At this point, we have no idea if Abdille returned home to her husband The three-storey home at 282 and called the police. Then I start- fighting the flames. what started the fire,” Kostiuk said. because she couldn’t afford to rent a Withrow Ave., just outside East ed ringing people’s doorbells to try At one point, there were 15 The other local fire, also said place. York’s southwest corner, was com- and help,” he told reporters. Clovis trucks on the scene. to involve hoarding, occurred last “This is a systemic issue about pletely destroyed. Toronto Fire is familiar to viewers of HGTV as “I work 12-hour shifts from Fri- Friday afternoon in Monarch Park. eligibility and support,” said Nawal Division Commander Andrew one of the network’s hosts. day to Sunday, so when I came See page 2 for the full story. Al-Busaidi, manager of Family Child and Youth Services at the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office. Al-Busaidi organized Tuesday’s com- Celebrate the season in song munity vigil for the family. She spoke yesterday to the East York Observer on, the festival’s long-time volun- The show will feature 11-time about the universality of the problem of 22nd annual Riverdale teer organizer, the concert will also Juno winner Murray McLauchlan, domestic violence. Share Concert blends officially launch the Christmas Devin Cuddy, son of Blue Rodeo “Women of all races, races, cultures, season. front man Jim Cuddy, Kim Stock- and religions go through this,” she said. music, holiday spirit “We work so hard during the wood, Pressgang Mutiny and Drew The Observer spoke to 10 residents fall to bring a great show to the Gonsalves of Kobo Town. at 85 Thorncliffe Park Dr. earlier this By PEDER MYHR community and then with the con- There will be local performers week, and all of them expressed shock The Observer cert, it really puts me in the spirt like the Frankland School Choir over the incident. of Christmas,” she said. “I love it and The Wexford Gleeks, a circus “I came back from work around 7:30 This Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m., so much. There’s really a magical performance, dance troupes, com- Photo courtesy of Riverdale Share p.m. and there were 10 cop cars in front the always-anticipated River- feeling in the air.” edy and lots of family-friendly fare of our building. It was really busy and dale Share Concert will celebrate This year’s concert boasts some- like the beloved trio Sharon, Lois Jim Cuddy performed its 22nd year of holiday fun and thing for everyone, bringing a and Bram. at the concert in 2013. n See NEIGHBOURS, page 2 spreading goodwill at The Dan- mixed bag of 19 acts to The Dan- This year, his son Devin forth Music Hall. For Susan Dix- forth Music Hall. n See SINGING, page 3 Cuddy will be featured. 2 NEWS The East York Observer ///Friday, Dec. 5, 2014 WHAT’S UP IN E.Y. Put your money where their mouths are East York Meals on Wheels is ask- ing workplaces to try a different kind of food drive this holiday season. They’re being challenged to get involved with the “Winter Warm-Up” program that of- fers help to those whose health, age or ability makes it difficult for them to shop or cook healthy meals for themselves. For $90 and up, work- places can buy a Roxana Chiriac /// The Observer variety of spon- Ring around the Christmas tree sorship packages, East York children practise their skating technique at the Dieppe Park Skating Rink, which opened for the season last Sat- ranging from a urday. The rink is located at 455 Cosburn Ave. daily hot meal for a month to spon- soring an annual day-trip. Dona- n POLITICS tions via Visa and Hoarding Mastercard will be accepted by Fragedakis hoping to collaborate hampers telephone at 416- 424-3322. Money East York councillor Fragedakis said she’s opti- term of council. orders payable to mistic about the start of the “I hope there will be less firefighters’ East York Meals optimistic about new municipal regime. She drama and less scandals com- on Wheels can be said she’s hopeful that John pared to the past four years,” mailed to Winter next four years with Tory’s tenure will be “more she said. efforts Warm-Up Pro- productive, unlike the last When it comes to her own By ARTURO CHANG gram, East York Mayor John Tory four years.” agenda, she said, “My ongo- Meals on Wheels, Councillor Burnside, now ing top priorities are to im- The Observer 2 Thorncliffe Park By ALI NAQVI The Observer representing Ward 26/Don prove traffic and congestion Dr., Unit 52, To- Valley West, told reporters and community safety.” Firefighters had to fight ronto, ON, The generally good vibra- that when he moved into his As for SmartTrack, the both fire and obstructing piles M4H 1H2. tions at city hall this week office, he discovered that the Tory plan for public transit of useless belongings when — as the Ford era officially files on constituent concerns improvements, “I want to see they arrived at a burning home ended and the Tory era began that had been maintained more details on SmartTrack,” on Monarch Park Avenue last Candy Cane Tea — were tempered by some by defeated incumbent John n FRAGEDAKIS Fragedakis said, “and see Friday, Nov. 28. comes to town bad vibes among the East Parker had been shredded. the plan more articulated in No one was hurt in the York representatives.