McLevin Community Park is being renamed in honour of a man who gave back to the community in Scarborough and beyond.
Scarborough Community Council supported a recommendation to rename the park at 180 McLevin Ave. after Muhammad Abbas Ali, a British Indian Army veteran of the Second World War and an officer in Pakistan's army who dedicated the rest of his life to serving the poor and needy including through the Muslim Welfare Centre he founded on McLevin Avenue in 1993. He passed away last April at age 88.More than a dozen supporters filled council chambers April 27 to hear it be made official that the park would now be known as Major Abbas Ali Park."We are very happy that (the park was renamed)," said Qaiser Naqvi, who was there to hear the good news. "Major Abbas was a personality. All his life he was a charity worker and humanitarian."The renaming was initiated by Scarborough-Rouge River Councillor Raymond Cho, who was a fan of and friend to Abbas."We don't find men like him that easy," Cho said after Abbas' death, adding though he is gone his spirit, teachings and the footprint of his good deeds will remain. The Muslim Welfare Centre runs a women's shelter, food banks, and services for children in Scarborough, Whitby, Mississauga and Pakistan."His dedication was to serve the needy irrespective of religion, nationality, caste or creed," Naqvi said of Abbas. "He was an asset to the community...everybody would love to see a park named after him to honour his service to humanity." Abbas participated in many fundraising walks in Canada and aboard, as well he participated in a skydiving fundraising event at 10,500 feet at the age of 77. He received numerous awards of his charity work including the UNICEF Award for service to children, the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship Award and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award.At the same community council meeting, Scarborough Southwest Councillor Adrian Heaps requested a report from the parks department to come to the next meeting regarding renaming Stamford Park to McPherson Park after Jim McPherson, who began the Clairlea-Westview Soccer Club 40 years ago.Under McPherson the club has nurtured thousands of young children and he remains involved with the club.Stamford Park is located on Victoria Park Avenue, north of St. Clair Avenue. -with files from Mike Adler