Beach Metro Community News – The Beach's source for news since 1972

Wine View: The nose knows when it comes to wine and whisky

April 2, 2020

By JACQUELINE CORRIGAN Nothing takes you back to a moment in time so quickly, automatically and completely as your sense of smell. It is primal and instinctive. It can dictate our mood, happy, sad, relaxed, excited. It is the one sense that is most closely linked to our memory. Smell is a silent invisible force. […]

Local resident Jason Balgopal seeks help from Canadian government to get his parents and others off cruise ship MS Zaandam

April 1, 2020

By ALEXANDER SAUVE For Kevin Balgopal, 80, and wife Jeanette, 78, what started off as an adventure of a lifetime has turned into a complete nightmare. Wanting to travel south near Cape Horn at the southern tip of Chile, the Scarborough residents decided that a cruise was their best option. Both had travelled extensively and […]

Parking lots for Woodbine Beach closed, but people still allowed on Boardwalk provided they follow physical distancing rules

April 1, 2020

By ALAN SHACKLETON The parking lots allowing access to Woodbine Beach were closed by the City of Toronto this week in order to deter the gathering of crowds in the area as part of the efforts to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Barriers and closed signs were put up to block off the […]

WoodGreen Community Services continues to help residents in need as they deal with COVID-19

April 1, 2020

By ALANA RAYMAN WoodGreen Community Services in East Toronto in one of a number of organizations helping those in need deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. WoodGreen, which serves about 37,000 of the city’s most vulnerable and marginalized residents, and organizations like it are facing a number of challenges during this present crisis. Teresa Vasilopoulos, Executive […]

Closeness of Balmy Beach community is helping residents cope with COVID-19 impacts

April 1, 2020

By ALEXANDER SAUVE John Cameron and his wife moved into the Beach community approximately four years ago. Both were attracted to the area’s small-town charm and feel that is usually hard to find in a big city. Of course, the waterfront and proximity to all their favourite shops, restaurants and amenities didn’t hurt either. For […]

Councillors Bradford and Fletcher call on provincial and federal governments to protect small businesses unable to pay April’s rent

March 31, 2020

East Toronto councillors Brad Bradford and Paula Fletcher are making their voices heard on the need to provide extra supports for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Beaches-East York Councillor Bradford and Toronto-Danforth Councillor Fletcher have sent letters to the provincial government calling for such supports. In Bradford’s letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, […]

East Toronto realtor collecting donations to buy grocery store gift cards for families in need during COVID-19 crisis

March 31, 2020

By ALANA RAYMAN Carolyn Griffis has been helping her community by supporting food programs for those in need for more than 12 years, and the need is being magnified now as families deal with the impacts of COVID-19. A realtor with ReMax Hallmark, she and several other local realtors help support the Toronto District School […]

In My Opinion: The March 31 edition of Beach Metro News has been printed and we are continuing to keep you informed in print and online

March 31, 2020

By ALAN SHACKLETON The March 31 print edition of the Beach Metro News, which will be on the streets today, is the result of the extra efforts of a lot of people over the past two weeks. Beach Metro News has had to make a number of adjustments to the way we are operating in […]

Health and safety is top priority as postponement of 2020 Olympics impacts Balmy Beach Club athletes

March 30, 2020

By MARY BETH DENOMY The decision to move the 2020 Olympics to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic has had a direct effect on a number of elite Balmy Beach Club (BBC) Olympic and Paralympic contenders. Last fall, two paddlers qualified their boats for Tokyo, including Nick Matveev a member of the men’s Canadian K4 […]

Obituary: Vivien Young remembered for her dedication to the Beach community

March 29, 2020

Vivien Young, long-time resident of the Beach community and wife of former area MP Neil Young, died on March 22 at the age of 78. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in August of last year, and had undergone brain surgery and had a pacemaker installed in September, the family said. Born on […]

In My Opinion: Beaches-East York MP outlines federal help for individuals and businesses during COVID-19 pandemic

March 29, 2020

By NATHANIEL ERSKINE-SMITH The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, and we need to work together to stop the spread of the virus and to address its serious and negative economic impact. As individuals, we need to listen to the advice of public health experts. That means staying home, keeping our physical distance, and […]

Garden Views: Some suggestions to support garden centres as they deal with COVID-19 crisis

March 29, 2020

By Mary FRAN McQUADE Usually, right around now, gardeners would be thinking about what we want to grow this year. But nothing’s usual about this March and April of 2020. Garden centres and nurseries are closed for in-person visits. They aren’t included on the list of essential businesses the province released on March 24. But […]