Volume 49 No. 16
BEACHMETRO.COM
November 3, 2020
Halloween fun in the Upper Beach
COVID-19 outbreak at Main Street Terrace residence By Ali Raza, Local Initiative Reporter
Journalism
A LONG-TERM care home in East Toronto has the highest reported cases of all long-term care homes in the province at this moment. As of Sunday, Nov. 1, Revera Main Street Terrace on 77 Main St. (between Gerrard Street East and Kingston Road) is reporting 65 active cases of COVID-19, among 150 residents. It also reports an additional seven cases among staff members, one of which has since recovered, with the remaining four at their homes in self-isolation. A resident with a family member at the home confirmed to the Beach Metro News that there are 56 cases, and the latest provincial data shows that Main Street Terrace presently has more active infections than any other long-term care home in Ontario.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April, the home had zero reported cases. The province has reported under five deaths in the home since the beginning of the pandemic. A week ago, the number of active cases at Main Street Terraces was less than half at 27. At that time, Revera Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rhonda Collins wrote a statement explaining the situation. She noted the home is working with Toronto Public Health to maintain current pandemic outbreak protocols. “We are doing enhanced cleaning, frequently disinfecting high touch surfaces like handrails and doors, resident rooms, common areas, and staff rooms,” Collins said. “We greatly appreciate the support of the infection prevention and control team and others from Michael Garron Hospital. Continued on Page 11
PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON
There was a Halloween celebration, within a COVID-19 bubble, in the Upper Beach neighbourhood on Oct. 31. Youngsters received treats that were delivered to them safely by a group of adults in the community. For more photos of Halloween in the Upper Beach, please see Page 15.
Remembrance Day ceremonies going virtual for this Nov. 11 By Ali Raza, Local Initiative Reporter
Journalism
LOCAL RESIDENTS will have to commemorate Remembrance Day virtually this Nov. 11, as the City of Toronto has announced no public ceremonies will be held due to COVID-19 protocols. In East Toronto, generally three major ceremonies take place in Toronto-Danforth, Beaches-East York, and Scarborough-Southwest,
but this year the pandemic has forced a change of plans. In Toronto-Danforth, Councillor Paula Fletcher will attend a shortened ceremony with limited participants at the cenotaph at the East York Civic Centre on 850 Coxwell Ave. “Remembrance Day is an important day where we honour those who served and those who continue to serve,” Fletcher said. “This year we won’t be able to
meet in person for the East York Remembrance Day Ceremony but we can participate in virtual commemorations. We can also take a moment of silence to pay our respects no matter where we are.” The City of Toronto commemorates Remembrance Week from Nov. 5 to 11. This year all events will be virtual and be made available to watch via the city’s website and social media. Continued on Page 11
Community seeking to name lane in memory of Reese Fallon By Ali Raza, Local Initiative Reporter
Journalism
A LANEWAY in the Upper Beach may soon be named in memory of Reese Fallon. It’s the result of a petition in support of renaming a laneway in memory of Fallon, 18, whose life was tragically cut short in the Danforth Shooting on July 22, 2018. Markham resident Julianna Kozis, 10, was also killed in the incident. At the time, a man started shooting at innocent bystanders along Danforth Avenue in the Greektown area. Thirteen other people were injured in the shooting before the
gunman killed himself. After a long period of mourning, and with support from the community, Reese’s parents, Doug Fallon and Claudine de Beaumont, approached Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford with the request to honour her memory with the laneway. Reese had just graduated from nearby Malvern Collegiate Institute and was planning on attending McMaster University’s nursing program. “The tragic loss in our community is still hard to fathom,” Bradford said. “Her care and passion are Continued on Page 11