July 24, 1964

On July 24, 1964, Matthew Kerry Smith, (24) robbed the CIBC branch on Wilmington Avenue. , As a disguise, Kerry wore a Beatle wig sold in Toronto dime stores that summer during Beatlemania.

During the robbery, Jack Blanc, (58) was shot and killed. Blanc, a fur cutter and a former Canadian and Israeli Army veteran was a customer in the bank and took the bank’s revolver from an employee and pursued Smith into the street, not knowing the revolver had only four rounds loaded in it.

Smith who was armed with a handgun and a military FN assault rifle, shot Blanc dead in the exchange of gunfire.

A manhunt ensued for the “Beatle Bandit”. He was captured in January 1965 with great fanfare. He was sentenced to death, but sentence was commuted as per practice then.

3 thoughts on “Bathurst Manor Plaza – CIBC Robbery”

Paul TrusterJuly 16, 2017 at 10:35 pm Some of these don’t appear to have been published previously, do you have any information on the source? or the identity of the man and woman walking west up Overbrook Place? Thanks!Reply
1. FV-JayJuly 16, 2017 at 10:50 pm Many were not published but were located in the archives of the Toronto Star. I have no details on who the people are in the photos.Reply
Paul TrusterJuly 18, 2017 at 9:39 am Thanks very much for the prompt reply! There are also unpublished photo negatives in the Toronto Telegram archives up at York University.Reply

In 1964, Bert learned of an opportunity to secure fill removed for the construction of the Spadina Expressway. The fill was essentially free and created yet another source of revenue – this time during the winter months.

An aerial shot showing the fill after delivery in 1964:

Photos from the top of the hill after fill was delivered:

Winter 1964:

An aerial photo from 1966 showing the ski lift:

In 1965, a ski lift was added and operations began.

Here is a video from 1965 showing the first year of operation:

Thanks to Jon Fine for the original 8mm film.

In order to serve patrons, a temporary building was used as a “Pro Shop”:

Snow-making equipment was also used:

The program was run as a private “club” due to zoning regulations, but anyone could join. A ski lift was built and the operation continued through the 1970’s when the land at the top of the hill was sold for development. Bert continued to own several lots at the top of the hill until the late 1990’s.

Several items from The Toronto Star pertaining to the new Ski operations at Forest Valley:

February 26, 1965: