In the hours after a Boston reverend arrived in Toronto to address the issue of gun violence here in the G.T.A., another man was struck down by bullets.

Paramedics rushed the 71-year-old man to hospital early Monday after a shooting at a west end nightclub.

He was hit in the chest and elbow, and it’s believed he wasn’t the intended target when shots rang out at about 3am in the after-hours club on Rivalda Rd., near Sheppard Ave. and Weston Rd.

The elderly man is at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and his condition at this point is unknown.

There’s no word yet on arrests.

A record 52 gun murders paralyzed the city in 2005, which is why local politicians have called in a Boston religious leader they hope will do for Toronto what he helped do for Beantown.

Rev. Eugene Rivers flew into Pearson International Airport Sunday night ahead of a meeting with Mayor David Miller Monday morning.

Rivers is known for creating the so-called Boston Miracle, which helped reduce homicides in that city from 150 in 1990 to 31 in 1999.

His plan would see police and politicians working together to solve the problem, as well as more community programs to help fatherless and at-risk youths.

"In some cases the real issue is parenting. A lot of young men haven’t been properly parented by their nuclear family or their larger community," Rivers said. "So the larger community must come behind and support the mothers frequently of young boys that get caught up in thug life."

It’s costing the city $25,000 to bring the reverend here for a three-day visit, but Councillor Michael Thompson feels the price tag is worth the potential benefit to the city.

"We want to be able to take and learn from other jurisdictions...take the best of what they have and incorporate in our solutions," said Thompson.

"Every single person in this city has a role to play in terms of making this a safer and better place."

Rivers meets with Mayor Miller Monday morning, and will also speak with Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, the Ontario Chief Justice, and other community members during his stay.





January 9, 2006




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