Don Mills Daily Updates
The latest news, views and things to do in Don Mills neighbourhoods
Streeter news:Feeding any wildlife, anywhere in city to be banned
On April 1 a new city bylaw comes into effect prohibiting the feeding of wildlife anywhere in Toronto.
And for good reason, according to wildlife experts. You may think you’re helping the animals but you’re not.
Even the traditional practice of throwing bread crumbs to birds is not helpful, the experts say.
Read Dennis Hanagan’s full story in Streeter news about the bylaw and the dangers of feeding the animals.
Car ablaze at Don Mills ramp of DVP
Police posted on Twitter today an account and a vivid picture of a vehicle bursting into flame on the southbound Don Valley Parkway at the Don Mills ramp.
FIRE:
S/B DVP & Don Mills
– reports of a vehicle fire
– police o/s
– @Toronto_Fire o/s – putting out vehicle fire
– no reported injuries
– officers advised off-ramp exit to N/B Don Mills is blocked
– expect delays
– consider alternate routes#GO670977
^al pic.twitter.com/6fKDccE89e— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) March 27, 2023
Robbery at gunpoint investigated
Officers responded to reports of a man being robbed at gunpoint near Don Mills and Kern roads today at 2:24 p.m.
The alleged robbers fled the area, according to a police tweet. No injuries have been reported.
Police are continuing to investigate.
Outdoor skating continues to Sunday — if the ice holds up
The city is encouraging skaters to enjoy the last few days of the official outdoor skating season at our local rinks. However, the weather seems poised to end the season earlier than the scheduled March 19 deadline.
Sunday evening is when the city starts to close its outdoor artificial ice rinks, natural ice rinks and skating trails and begin its annual conversion of spaces into skateboarding parks, tennis courts and pickleball spaces.
Meanwhile the forecast for the next four days calls for rainy and overcast days with temperatures mainly above zero.
Summerlicious applications open
Winterlicious seems barely over and it’s already time for local restaurants to sign up for the summer edition of the fixed-price dining festival.
Applications to participate in the Summerlicious program will be accepted from today to March 22, the city has announced.
This year’s Summerlicious runs from July 7 to 23 and there’s good news for participating restaurants: the fees have been cut to less than half the pre-pandemic rates. The new fee is $550. The city says this reduction should “make it easy and affordable for restaurants to participate and will encourage more Toronto residents to dine out and celebrate Toronto’s diverse culinary scene.”
Restaurants can find more information on the City’s Summerlicious 2023 Restaurant Participation webpage.
Local home prices dropping, real estate board says
Home prices are down by nine per cent from last year in this area, according to figures recently released by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board.
The report indicates the year-over-year decrease for the real estate “C13” area, including Banbury-Don Mills, Parkwoods-Donalda and Victoria Village.
As of January, the average home here is now about $1.2 million, TRREB reports.
Single-family, detached houses have taken the biggest hit, dropping 11.8 per cent to about $2 million.
Parking restrictions eased for Family Day
Police have announced they will not be ticketing vehicles parked on the street on Feb. 20 on rush-hour routes and in areas with posted Monday–Friday regulations.
Pedestrian struck, driver flees
A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in an apparent hit-and-run at Don Mills Road and The Donway East today at about 9 a.m.
The victim was rushed to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police reported on Twitter.
The driver did not remain on the scene, police said.
Local man charged with indecent act, harassment
Police arrested a man on Feb. 3 near Don Mills Road and St. Dennis Drive in a criminal harassment and indecent exposure investigation.
A man is reported to have engaged children in a residential apartment building, asking them to visit his address, trying to give them gifts and, in one incident, exposing himself. He also committed an indecent act in a separate incident, police said.
A 58-year-old man faces four charges, including committing an indecent act with intent to insult or offend another.
For more information and an image of the accused, see the police news release.
Report our potholes to be fixed
You may see repair crews out on the roads today as the city launches its first pothole-fixing blitz of the year.
Chances are, though, plenty of Don Mills potholes will remain unless they are reported. To get those car-wrecking eyesores filled, report them via the 311 Toronto mobile app, online at Toronto.ca/311 or by calling 311.
The city says most repairs are carried out within four days of potholes being reported.
This ward soon to have three cameras to catch speeders
The city is adding 25 automated speed enforcement cameras, one for each ward in Toronto. The most recent ASE site in DonValley West is on Harrison Road near Vernham Avenue.
The new camera will join two existing cameras in the ward, currently located on Don Mills Road, north of Overlea Boulevard, and on Overlea, east of William Morgan Drive.
See the full Streeter story on the new cameras.
CampTO registration set to open
It’s time to start planning the kids’ summer camp activities at local parks and centres this summer. The city has announced its CampTO programs are online for your consideration, ready for registration beginning Feb. 11.
Some new programs have been added to the CampTO lineup for the programs that run from July 4 to Sept. 1.
For more information on the program and registration, see the Streeter calendar listing.
Letter to Ford opposes ‘strong mayor’ bill
Don Valley West councillor Paul Fletcher is among 15 city councillors sending a letter today to Premier Doug Ford opposing the province’s Bill 39, the so-called Better Municipal Governance Act.
The Act would, under certain conditions, let the mayor of Toronto propose and pass bylaws with support of only one-third of city council, a move that critics have called undemocratic.
See full text of letter at Progress Toronto.
Ground broken on affordable housing highrise
Mayor John Tory, Premier Doug Ford and leaders of the Ismaili community, including Prince Amyn Aga Khan, celebrated the start of construction of 390 affordable rental homes at 844 Don Mills Rd. today.
A 27-storey building with affordable rental homes, a long-term care facility, a daycare and retail is to be be completed in late 2025.
See the city news release for more details.
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