Notre Dame stages Artmas
Volume 47 No. 19
BEACHMETRO.COM
NOTRE DAME High School presents its annual Christmas show on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 12. This year’s show, Artmas, will feature music, dance, drama, visual arts and technology. Show time is 7 p.m. and the doors open at 6:30 p.m. Notre Dame High School is located at 12 Malvern Ave. For more information, call the school at 416-393-5501.
December 11, 2018
Police offer tips to stop holiday thefts By Nina Rafeek
TORONTO POLICE are warning local residents to be “extra vigilant” with their shopping and package deliveries at this time of the year. As residents are taking advantage of deals online, neighbourhood thieves are taking advantage of the increase in delivered packages sitting unattended at front doors. “The week approaching Black Friday and continuing through to Cyber Monday, there is a rise in online shopping which means there are more packages being delivered and left on porches. This increases the opportunity for thefts as there are more potential victims,” said Const. Jon Morrice of Toronto police’s 55 Division. Increased thefts are also occurring in parked cars, Morrice said. Morrice said that thieves survey parked cars in malls or residential parking lots to see if they have shopping bags or packages in them. Also, they often follow courier trucks and wait to see if the delivered package sits on the doorstep unattended. “If they like it, they try to sell it, if not, they toss it,” he said. Although he could not provide details on how many arrests were made in the Beaches—East York area, Morrice said that in-home surveillance cameras are “very good” for identifying suspects. Recently, a theft victim submitted footage on a high-quality surveillance camera which led to an arrest, he said. Continued on Page 2
PHOTO: IAN KELSO
Loghan and Connor Scotland with some of the many Christmas decorations that light up their home on Kingston Road, just east of Fallingbrook Avenue. Their mom Natasha has been decorating the home for years with bright and colourful decorations and lights, and the house has become a bit of a tourist attraction not just at Christmas but other holidays as well.
Volunteers do their part to Share A Christmas By Alan Shackleton
LOCAL RESIDENTS are invited to come out and volunteer to help Community Centre 55’s annual Share A Christmas campaign starting next week. Packing and sorting dates for the more than 800 hampers that will be going out to residents in need over the holiday season begins on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 18, at the centre which is located at 97 Main St. “We get approximately 100 volunteers a night and over the whole week including delivery day, it’s about 1,000 volunteers helping out,” said Jade Maitland, Special
Events and Volunteer Coordinator at Community Centre 55. This is the 37th year for Share A Christmas and its impact in the community is huge, said Maitland. The hampers include food donations for not only a Christmas dinner, but also enough food to last most recipients well into the new year. The hampers delivered to families also include presents for children. “I think the hampers are pretty crucial to the people who get them,” said Maitland. “Some people literally have nothing, so to be able to have food for a Christmas dinner is special. It also means the kids can get Christmas presents, which
Volunteers are also asked to dress in layers as the temperature can vary in the building. “Bring your muscles as the food boxes can get heavy. Bring your patience as lots of elves come out to help,” said Community Centre 55’s website. Maitland pointed out that many of the volunteers come out as a family and supporting Share A Christmas has become a holiday tradition for a large number of residents in the east Toronto area. “A lot of people say it’s a tradition for them and they want to give back to the community,” she said. “They also want their kids to learn that it’s important to help out those Continued on Page 4
would otherwise be impossible for these families.” Along with the toys and fixings for a Christmas dinner, the hampers are also packed full of food staples which are much needed by those receiving the donations. “This is really important to the people who receive them because it is a large amount of food items that will last them a long time,” said Maitland. She said everyone is welcome to come out and volunteer, but pointed out the packing and sorting is a busy procedure and if young children are coming to help, their families need to be aware that it can be a hectic environment.
550 Adelaide St E (At Parliament) 416.865.9777
1695 Eglinton Ave E (At Bermondsey) 416.751.3131
vwtoronto.ca
donvalleyvolkswagen.ca
Parliament St
We’ve got you covered from the Don all the way Downtown.
Adelaide St
Eglinton Ave E
y wa
ark yP lle
a nV
Do
N