Volume 46 No. 22
February 7, 2017
Birch Cliff development looms By Lara O’Keefe
FOR YEARS, Birch Cliff has been blossoming into a unique and character-filled neighbourhood tucked away on the outskirts of the Beach community. Quaint cafes, small mom and pop shops, and the picturesque beauty of Lake Ontario and the Scarborough Bluffs have seen it embody the “small town in a large city” vibe the East End is known for and retain its charm PHOTO: LARA O’KEEFE from years gone by. But the neighbourhood is set This strip along the 1400 block of for a growth spurt with a number Kingston Road is a potential site of developments on the way for for a mixed-use development. the Birch Cliff neighbourhood. “There has been a lot of inter- quent demolition of their storeest not only in the Beaches but front. moving east and I think there’s a “He gave us six months [to valot of interest in the mid-rise av- cate],” she said. enue development. As downtown Pointing to all of the supplies is building up they’re slowly in the convenience store, Shanstarting to expand and work its thakumai said they’re searching way out east,” said ward 36 coun- for a new space but it’s not an cillor Gary Crawford about the easy task to pick up and move – development push in his neigh- especially when they only have a bourhood. few months to do so and the prices of availM o r e able storethan a fronts in handful the city of condos are so are in the high. process of Shanentering thakumai the area said that with some she was already going into under construction. nursing Others are s c h o o l still in the when her – Councillor Gary Crawford early apbrother-inproval and development process. law approached her to work at Most recently, Core Develop- the Becker’s store instead. She ment Group has made known took the opportunity because their intentions to build a mixed- their future at that time seemed use condo development on a rec- secure and bright. Now, that fuognizable retail stretch of Kings- ture feels less clear. ton Road. “If we move, it costs a lot of Current tenants at 1480 to 1496 money for us,” she said. “I don’t Kingston Rd. include New Ener- know. I have two kids, you know? gy Muay Thai & Fitness, Mayfair I don’t know what we’re going to Custom Upholstery, The Salvage do.” Shop, Becker’s, and Wimpy’s Acknowledging the effects on Diner. the business owners, Crawford During a survey of the area last said he thinks “this is the first month, business owners were re- development in Birch Cliff where luctant to go on record, but gen- existing businesses are impacterally expressed concerns about ed. Most of the other developments are infill on old lots. So I the loss of their livelihood. Kousika Shanthakumai, who think the community is feeling it has managed the Becker’s store a little bit more, but they undernext to Wimpy’s Diner with her stand change does happen.” brother-in-law for nearly 20 Continued on Page 3 years, said she was shocked to learn about the sale and subse-
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“This is the first development in Birch Cliff where existing businesses are impacted.”
PHOTO: ANNA KILLEN
My hero Eight-year-old Olivia tosses a plastic superhero toy into a bucket at one of several creative game stations at the Applegrove Community Complex Superheroes and Villains family dance Saturday, Feb. 4. The well-attended event featured face painting, crafts, and a DJ who kept the costumed kids and parents moving on the dance floor.
Hundreds attend Gerrard St. vigil By Lara O’Keefe
HUNDREDS OF people circled Gerrard India Bazaar last week, holding candles that lit up the night as they walked through the streets. The January 30 candlelight vigil was one of more than a dozen that took place across Canada in the wake of the deadly shooting at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec (Islamic cultural centre of Quebec) – a Quebec City mosque – that left six dead and another 19 injured. As of late last week, at least five remained in hospital in critical condition. Laval University student Alexandre Bisonnette, 27, has since been arrested in connection with the attack and faces six counts of first degree murder and five counts of attempted murder. While no motive has been officially confirmed, it has been reported that he was known for championing extreme far-right and antiimmigration views online. Horrified by the events and wanting to demonstrate solidarity, Leslieville historian Joanne Doucette posted a call to action on Facebook the morning after the January 29 attack saying, “we can’t stand by at times like these.”
Hours later, she and others had organized a candlelight vigil.The event was held at the corner of Highfield Road and Gerrard Street East where participants walked along the Indian Bazaar to Fatih Mosque located at 182 Rhoades Avenue, where participants engaged in a moment of silence and prayer. “We need to express our sorrow and love for our neighbours and friends,” said Doucette. “Our Canada includes Muslims. Islamophobia is not the way and this violence must stop.” Speaking to the crowd at the University of Toronto vigil, Toronto Mayor John Tory thanked those who attended and who were there to convey the message to the Muslim community that they are loved, adding that “they’re an important part of what has built up this city. They are people of faith, people of family, people who are wonderful citizens and very much a part of the fabric of this great city.” Demonstrations continued through the week, with a gathering at the Baitul Aman Masjid mosque on Danforth and Victoria Park Friday afternoon and another Friday evening at the Medinah Masjid mosque at Danforth and Donlands which attracted hundreds of people.