Disproportionate number of homicides recorded in past year

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Deadly violence in our streets and homes was Scarborough's top story in 2008.

Despite uncounted thousands of citizens who do the best they can for their families, despite new programs for youth and priority neighbourhoods, and despite a small army of police, community workers, caring teachers and volunteers, homicides still occurred here with distressing regularity.

Tyler Roulston, 18, and Adrian McFarlane, 19, were found murdered on different floors of the same Danforth Road apartment tower. Jonathan Rodrigues, 21, was shot in his home on Golfhaven Drive.

Ricardo Kelly, 22, was fatally stabbed in a stairwell on Cougar Court. Ten days later, Mahamed Adbi Warsame, 16, was found in the same building, dead of "blunt impact trauma."

Levis Taylor, 17, and Shammal Ramsey, 19, were both shot dead in north Scarborough on the same day. Retired cabbie Don Cuthbertson, 74, was found murdered in his Pharmacy Avenue apartment. Justin Brunet, 21, was shot dead outside a Victoria Park Avenue townhouse.

Shazad Khawaja, 17, was gunned down outside his building on Mornelle Court. Two days later, Michael Watson, 28, was shot dead in a bar on Rylander Boulevard.

Caxton Kyeremeh, 19, was found shot to death behind a shopping mall on Bon Echo Court. Daniel Boakye, 18, was found stabbed outside a Kennedy Road apartment building. Andre Moore, 27, shot dead, was found beside a restaurant on Eglinton Avenue.

Susan John, 43, and her mother Saramma Varughese, 65, were stabbed to death in their apartment on Rotary Drive. The double killing sparked calls for a public inquiry and a review of the province's bail system.

Wanda Delong, 64, and her adult children Richard Delong, 38, and Elizabeth Tompkins, 41, were found stabbed in the family's Welwyn Avenue home, victims of a murder-suicide.

Kurt Gonsalves, 49, was beaten to death in his Birchmount Road apartment on Christmas Day.

Toronto Mayor David Miller renewed his call for a handgun ban after a boy of 16 was shot outside Bendale Business and Technical Institute. The victim survived and was later charged with armed robbery.

People turned out to talk about the violence and to hear about redevelopment plans for Markington Square plaza, a columbarium proposed for Birchmount Road and proposed condominiums at the Bridlewood Mall.

A meeting in Guildwood on proposed testing for a possible offshore wind farm - rescheduled after a first attempt drew too many for a local church to hold - was attended by more than 1,000 people.

Residents also met to discuss Ontario's anti-poverty strategy, and at the annual Scarborough Summit, how to bring the area good jobs.

Scarborough lost notable citizens in 2008. Dr. Sheela Basrur, a chief medical officer of health for Toronto and Ontario. Former Scarborough Mayor Joyce Trimmer.

Michael Gillan, a teacher and coach at West Hill Collegiate for more than 30 years. William Dempsey, who helped shape and preserve Scarborough's Centennial community.

Tom Ambas, who fought to change the Young Offenders Act. Pte. Demetrios Diplaros, who gave his life serving in Afghanistan.

There were other milestones for this area, happier ones.

Knox United Church in Agincourt celebrated 160 years and in the Kingston-Galloway area St. Margaret's-in-the-Pines was 175. The Wexford Restaurant turned 50, while Sisters Restaurant, a family enterprise since 1956, was sold but kept its name. The Highland Creek Women's Institute turned 100.

Cutbacks went ahead at Rouge Valley Heath System after a court dismissed an employee union appeal to stop them. At The Scarborough Hospital, provincially-appointed supervisor Rob Devitt resigned, saying the hospital had turned the corner on issues including low staff morale, a high mortality rate and deficits.

Scarborough stuck with an all-Liberal slate in an election that handed the party one of its worst national results. The only new face among the six was Scarborough Southwest MP Michelle Simson.

The Toronto Zoo board, having given its foundation a plan to raise $250 million, severed ties with the foundation, which dissolved itself, prompting zoo board members Mike Del Grande and Michael Thompson to resign.

A report showed Scarborough gets its fair share of most city services from the rest of Toronto though some councillors disagreed.

Scarborough's Robert Baltovich was acquitted of murder at his second trial, 18 years after the disappearance of his girlfriend, Scarborough student Elizabeth Bain.

Detroit Red Wing Kris Draper brought the Stanley Cup to his parents' home in Port Union, where fans posed with it for hours.