The South Bayview Bulldog

Layne Vu Pollard with her dad, Stan Pollard. (Stan Pollard)

Layna Vu Pollard, 12, of Guelph, has died from influenza. She is reported to be the second pediatric death in Ontario but the details are vague. Layna was a Grade 7 student who was at home with her parents when she fell ill. Her vaccination background has not been reported. Among all ages, more than 80 deaths have been recorded here. The Canadian flu season is said to be, in general, not much different from the US, but child fatalities there have shocked much of the country. As many as 63 children are reported to have succumbed. “In general, we can expect a very similar influenza season in Canada compared to the U.S. but not exactly the same,” Dr. Isaac Bogoch, clinical researcher at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute told Global News. “This year has been more of a rough ride compared to prior years.” According to the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (between the week of Jan. 21 and Jan. 27), there are signs that activity is starting to “slow down” in parts of the country.

Police have revealed a sneaky telephone fraud which relies on victims thinking they have phoned the police or their bank when in fact they are still on the line with criminals. The potential for theft is enormous. Five Toronto residents have lost $5.1 million transferred to criminal accounts. Here is a summary from police issued Friday.

Recently, members of the public have been contacted via phone by people posing as retailers who claim to be alerting them regarding a fraud offence in progress which involves the use of their credit card account.
After the initial conversation, the intended victim may be advised to dial 9-1-1 in order to alert police of the “credit card fraud” that is supposedly in progress. The victim may also be advised to contact their financial institution in order to protect their financial interests.

The victim will hang up and do so, being unaware that the original caller has not disconnected.
The victim believes they have contacted police via 9-1-1 and/or their financial institution, but they have actually been re-directed to an imposter posing as a 9-1-1 call-taker or bank employee.
The “call-taker” will speak to the victim and connect them to yet another imposter posing as a police investigator or will refer the victim to a “bank investigator” either by connecting them directly or asking them to hang up and call the number located on the back of their bank card. The victim will comply, again being unaware that the original caller has not actually disconnected.

Ultimately, the victim will be urged to attend their bank branch and immediately transfer funds to a specific account that is supposedly intended to safeguard their funds until the “investigation” is complete. The scheme may vary in detail from person to person depending on the circumstances. The scheme appears to be directed at persons using their home-based phones. There is no particular phone provider associated to the victims. To date, five Toronto victims have suffered combined losses of over $5.1 million. Investigators believe there are other victims.

There is evidence to indicate that the scheme is being conducted nationwide and hundreds of thousands of people have been targeted. Furthermore, there is evidence to indicate that, in certain cases, the callers may already possess some of the banking particulars of the intended victim. The public is reminded of the following: 9-1-1 is for emergencies where people or property are at risk. 9-1-1 call-takers will not forward your call to a police investigator  If you are in doubt about the security of your personal funds, attend any branch of your financial institution and make enquiries in person

Mona Piper

Bamboobay Valentine’s Workshop

Sheila Cary-Meagher

Valu Mart roses

14 hours hours ahead of Toronto

Many people will wish to be reminded that visiting for the late Mona Piper will take place Friday at the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles-Newbigging Chapel at 1403 Bayview Ave. Two receptions are scheduled, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Obituary. A nice day Saturday may be had for children who visit the Bamboobay Valentine’s card-making workshop. To the far right, long-time East York TDSB trustee Sheila Cary-Meagher is under fire for alleged use of “inappropriate language” toward staff. Lower left, Tuft’s Valu Mart will offer free roses on Valentine’s Day. Finally, the PyeongChang Olympics are underway but live viewing is awkward as events in Korean unfold 14 hours ahead of EST in Toronto.

A Service of Remembrance for Peter David Ballantyne is to be held Friday at Rosedale United Church. Mr. Ballantyne died February 2, 2018 after a long battle with cancer. He was a member of Torys LLP and a prominent resident of Moore Park. Globe and Mail 

Karen Fraser, a well-known Leaside resident and friend of many, and owner of 53 Mallory Cres. with her partner Ron Smith, has spoken to CBC Radio about the jolting realization that someone had been burying human remains on the property. Police find remains of at least six men on Mallory Crescent

Toronto Police will broadcast live from police headquarters Friday at 10:30 a.m. about their concern over what is called a phone-based fraud scheme. That might cover a lot of ground. The news conference will be live-streamed and seen at the link.

As reported earlier this week, Friday and Saturday will see snowfall in amounts estimated as high as 5 cm each day. Friday, this snowfall is expected to mainly impact the afternoon commute.

A member of the Leaside Community Facebook group has posted a “heads up” notice about the theft of her wallet from a purse about 2.30 p.m.Thursday while she was in the Starbucks on Bayview Ave opposite Belsize Drive. She says that within six minutes the thief had put $2,000 in US funds on her Visa card. There is a fairly long thread growing late this afternoon with many people expressing regret. One notes that she was followed by a “young guy” who she “ditched at Value Mart.” Among the items lost in the wallet theft were baby pictures, it is posted.

Ward 25 Safety Meeting

Prom Drive

Laugh Out Loud in Leaside #9

Shrove Tuesday

PA Day Horse Camp

Leaside United Shrove Tuesday February 13

Northlea Shrove Tuesday

St. Luke’s Anglican Shrove

From the upper left, Jaye Robinson’s Ward 25 Safety Meeting is February 20. Chief Saunders will be there. Friend Patrick Rocca posts the New Circles Prom Drive details. They’re working on this until April 23 for kids who need that rite of passage called Prom Night. Next, friend Charlene Kalia’s good works extend to Laugh Out Loud in Leaside #9. It is often sold out. Shrove Tuesday is next week so plan now to support your local church by enjoying some yummy pancakes. Centre left, who knew there was a PA Day Horse Camp? Giddy Up.