Classic cars and more at annual Wheels on the Danforth
Leslieville BlockFest slated for this Saturday
By Nafisat Alao
THE LESLIEVILLE Block Fest will take over Dundas Street East from Logan to Carlaw avenues on Saturday, Aug. 24, transforming the area into a bustling street party.
The event will run from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., rain or shine, with the street closing from 9 a.m. to midnight.
Formerly recognized as the Leslieville Beer Festival, the event has recently been renamed.
This transformation, according to co-founder Ruben Vina, was to promote inclusivity and bring in more local vendors from the neighbourhood that did not associate with beer drinking.
“When talking to people everyone was saying they weren’t beer drinkers so we changed the name to Leslieville Block Fest to make it more inclusive…the difference be-
tween the beer fest and the block fest is that families didn’t feel as included and we wanted to change that,” said Vina.
Several sponsors will be supporting the festival, with Metrolinx among the major contributors, sponsoring numerous children’s activities.
Other sponsors and vendors attending the event include Beanfield, Gerrard Square, The Weir Team, Alterra, Norseman, Vive Fitness, Access Storage, Ace Golf, Raymond James Wealth management, …ish Coffee, Gerrard Street Bakery, Toronto Dog Moms and Bark and Chill, Eastbound Brewing, Saulter Street Brewery, Avling, Rorschach Brewing, and several other microbreweries.
Additionally, the festival will feature a variety of artisans.
Continued on Page 19
Looking for a patio in the Beach? See Pages 14 and 15
Proposal for six-storey building at Queen and Lee received by city
By Amarachi Amadike
THE CITY of Toronto has received the development proposal for a six-storey mixed-use building at 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032-2038 and 2040 Queen St. E. in the Beach.
The application, which officially met the city’s minimum development application requirements on Wednesday, July 17, proposes the demolition of the two-storey mixeduse building that is currently on site at the northwest corner of Queen Street East and Lee Avenue.
Proposed by Crombie REIT, the 5,728-square-metre project will have 1,140 square metres of retail space that fronts Queen Street East as the developer aims to “enlarge and improve the existing grocery store to better serve the existing community and to increase the housing supply in the area in prox-
imity to frequent transit”, according to the application’s cover letter.
The remaining 4,588 square metres will be reserved for 60 residential dwelling units comprising 40 one-bedroom units, 14 two-bedroom units, and six three-bedroom units.
“Our proposal includes a range of 1-3 bedroom units, which will increase the housing options for existing residents in The Beaches who may be looking for an alternative to single-family homes or wanting to downsize, as well as new future community members including young families,” said a statement on Crombie REIT’s official website.
The developers have proposed 33 vehicular parking spaces and 68 bicycle parking spaces for residents.
With the development application in its early stages, a commu-
nity consultation has not yet been scheduled by Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford. However, residents can expect a meeting early in September, he recently told Beach Metro Community News
“Beachers take a lot of pride in their community and I look forward to hearing what local residents have to say about this application,” said Bradford.
A community consultation meeting for this project is expected to draw much public attention due to the project’s high-profile location.
As described by longtime Beacher and community historian Gene Domagala in a Beach Metro Community News column this past May, “the corner of Queen and Lee is the historic heart of the Kew Beach area and possibly the entire Beach community.”
Continued on Page 19
PHOTOS: ALAN SHACKLETON
The annual Wheels on the Danforth Festival in the Danforth Avenue and Danforth Road area brought a large turnout of classic cars and more on Saturday, Aug. 17. Above left, Heather Berlin, Don Johnson and Doc MacKay with the ‘Zombie’ 2000 Volkswagen Beetle GS. Above right, Kayla and David with their 1973 Ford LTD. Wheels on the Danforth featured car displays, entertainment, food and activities for kids.
Beaches-East York Councillor Bradford reprimanded for violating Code of Conduct during mayoral byelection campaign
By Alan Shackleton
BEACHES-EAST YORK Councillor
official capacity from being shared with their election campaign team,” said the Integrity Commissioner.
willingness to accept a reprimand,” wrote Batty.
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Brad Bradford has been reprimanded for breaching Toronto’s Code of Conduct in relation to the use of constituent emails during his mayoral byelection campaign in 2023.
Toronto Council voted to issue the reprimand at its July 24 meeting on the recommendation of city Integrity Commissioner Jonathan Batty.
The Integrity Commissioner began an investigation into the matter last year after four Beaches-East York residents complained that they had received unsolicited emails from Bradford’s mayoral byelection campaign in the spring of 2023.
The investigation began on Aug. 1, 2023 and finished on June 19 of this year, according to the Integrity Commissioner.
Batty’s investigation concluded that Bradford had violated Articles 5 and 7 of the city’s Code of Conduct in relation to the use of the councillor’s constituent contact information during his mayoral byelection campaign.
The report on the investigation was released on July 17 and recommended that Toronto Council reprimand Bradford for the violations.
A reprimand is generally considered to be a symbolic but official rebuke, and no there is no further penalty associated to the decision.
Article 7 of the Code of Conduct applies to Election Campaign work and “prohibits members of Council, and their staff, from using the resources of their City Hall offices for any election campaign or campaign-related activities”.
In a statement sent to Beach Metro Community News on Wednesday, July 31, Bradford apologized and said he accepts the Integrity Commissioner’s findings in the report.
“During last year’s mayoral byelection, my campaign team sent out an email and it turns out that it went to some people who it wasn’t supposed to. As soon as I found out it happened, I asked my team to look into it and take corrective action, which they did. It did not happen again, but it shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” said Bradford.
“The buck stops with me, and I take full responsibility. I have accepted the Commissioner’s findings and apologize to the complainants and anyone else who was impacted.”
Council voted 22-0 to approve the reprimand. Absent from the vote were Bradford, Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher and Etobicoke North Councillor Vincent Crisanti.
In his July 17 report, Integrity Commissioner Batty wrote that he had informed Councillor Bradford of his findings and offered him an opportunity to comment on them in accordance with the Toronto Municipal Code.
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“I stand by my Office’s investigation,” he wrote.
In his report, Batty wrote about Councillor Bradford’s response to being told the Integrity Commissioner was undertaking an investigation based on the complaints of the four constituents.
“Councillor Bradford admitted his 2023 mayoral byelection campaign used constituent contact information transferred from his City Hall office. He advised that a former employee of his office, who volunteered on the campaign and did not name, was responsible for the error,” said Batty’s report.
In the report, Batty referred to a letter sent to him by Bradford dated Oct. 6, 2023 that mentioned the constituent contact list and that “some data” from the councillor’s City Hall NationBuilder was “inadvertently uploaded” to his mayoral campaign NationBuilder “on the assumption that it was data from a previous campaign that had been overlooked.”
Batty said the Oct. 6 letter from Councillor Bradford also said: “I take full responsibility for the mistake. The recipients who complained (about the May 16, 2023 campaign email under the Campaign Manager’s name) may have received one email as a result of this mistake. To them, and any others who may have come forward, I apologize for this administrative error.”
Article 5 of the Code of Conduct applies to the use of Confidential Information, including email contact lists and what they may be used for. It specifically prohibits “constituent contact list information members obtain in their
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“Councillor Bradford’s legal counsel advises that Councillor Bradford is prepared to accept the reprimand I am recommending to Council, to avoid my Office’s ‘further expenditure of scarce taxpayer dollars, and time away from his constituents.’ His counsel further alleges my Office’s investigation was unfair and mischaracterized almost every single piece of evidence, despite the fact of Councillor Bradford’s admissions described below and his apparent
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For a link to the Integrity Commissioner’s Report on Councillor Brad Bradford’s Use of Constituent Contact Information, please go to www.toronto. ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-247809.pdf
For more the Toronto Council agenda item on the July 24 vote to reprimand, please go to https://secure.toronto.ca/ council/agenda-item.do?item=2024. CC20.8
Nomination deadline for Beach Citizen of the Year Award is Aug. 23
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THE NOMINATION deadline for the 2024 Beach Citizen of the Year Award is this Friday, Aug. 23, at 5 p.m.
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riod, and has inspired others to do the same can be nominated.
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Anyone who has worked hard to improve life in the Beach neighbourhood, has impacted the community and the people in it, has made a tangible difference in the community over a long pe-
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This award is only available to people who have volunteered their time to the community without pay. The award has been handed out to outstanding community members since 2001.
The final selection will be made on Sept. 3.
Nomination forms for the 2024 Beach Citizen of the Year Award are available at www.centre55.com/community_programs/beach-citizen-of-the-year. Nominations should be sent to Beach Citizen of the Year, Community Centre 55, 97 Main St., Toronto, ON, M4E 2V6.
Lawyer Jason Balgopal releases legal reference book
Balgopal’s Guide to Criminal Practice 2024 Edition
LOCAL RESIDENT and lawyer Jason Balgopal has recently published a legal reference book titled Balgopal’s Guide to Criminal Practice 2024 Edition
A Beach Citizen of the Year in 2017, Balgopal has been a lawyer since 1999 and has practiced exclusively in criminal law since 2003.
As an Assistant Crown Attorney in Toronto, he has prosecuted offences from murder to theft and has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario. He also frequently presents on the topics of elder abuse prevention and mental health.
His book is “practical guide for all participants in the criminal justice system” including police, investigators, defence practitioners, students, and those interested in learning more about the topic.
“The goal of the book is to provide the user with the tools and information necessary to navigate the busy daily practice of criminal justice in the provincial court,” according to the book itself.
The book contains numerous flowcharts that help users understand how the different parts of the Criminal Code interact amongst themselves and with other important statutes that regulate criminal law.
Glen Manor Drive, Toronto (647) 528-7557 eren@thecubespace.net cubestemcamps.ca
“The team at Beach Metro News have always been friendly and helpful, and, coming from England 20 years ago, made me feel part of the community. I’ll always be grateful.” Alberto Paolucci, Tutoring – Help with Math & English
For more information, including how to order the book, please go to https://store. thomsonreuters.ca/en-ca/products/balgopals-guide-to-criminal-practice-2024-editionprint-and-proview-ebook-43319389
The book also features caselaw that reproduces relevant paragraphs from the actual text of the cases being examined. “In this manner, the user can feel confident that when they appear in a busy provincial court they will be able to address nearly any issue which arises and direct the court to the relevant legislation or caselaw,” said the book’s description.
If you wish to increase your business presence in the Beach, Leslieville, South Scarborough and East Danforth, the Beach Metro classifieds are an excellent option!
We’ve been the gold standard for 50 years.
For more information, contact Carolin Schmidt at carolin@beachmetro.com
PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON
Jason Balgopal with his legal reference book Balgopal’s Guide to Criminal Practice 2024 Edition.
East Toronto’s Aaron Brown wins Olympic gold with Canada’s 4×100-metre men’s relay team
THE THIRD time was golden for East Toronto sprinter Aaron Brown as he won a gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games earlier this month as a member of the Canadian men’s 4×100-metre relay team.
The 32-year-old Brown, who grew up in East Toronto and attended Bowmore Road Public School and Birchmount Park Collegiate, ran the first leg of the relay final on Aug. 9 at the Stade de France in Paris.
Brown passed the baton to Jerome Blake, who then passed it to Brendon Rodney who then passed it to Andre De Grasse for the anchor leg of the race and the gold medal win. The Canadian men, running in Lane 9, finished the race with a time of 37.50 seconds, including an anchor leg of 8.89 seconds by De Grasse.
The silver medal went to South Africa (with a time of 37.57 seconds) and the bronze to Great Britain (with a time of 37.61 seconds).
The last time the Canadian men’s 4x100m relay team won Olympic gold was in 1996 with the legendary team of Donovan Bailey, Brunie Surin, Glenroy Gilbert and Robert Esmie.
For Brown, it was his third Olympic medal in a row in the 4x100m men’s relay. He was a member of the team that won the bronze in 2016 in Rio, and the silver in 2021 in Tokyo.
Brown, who also competed in the 200m race but did not advance to the finals in Paris, first competed for Canada in the 2012 London Olympics where he ran in the 200m race and just fell short of qualifying for the final.
With the gold medal in the men’s 4x100m relay, De Grasse has tied Beacher Penny Oleksiak as Canada’s most decorated Olympian. They have both won seven
medals.
Oleksiak, 24, took part in the Paris Olympics as a member of Canada’s women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team. The team finished fourth in the finals, just out of the medals.
Oleksiak also swam the freestyle portion of the women’s 4x100m medley relay to help Canada win their qualifying heat, but she did not swim in the final race of that event. Canada also finished fourth in that race.
These were Oleksiak’s third Olympics in a row. As a 16-year-old at the Rio Olympics in 2016, she won a gold medal in the 100m freestyle; a silver in the 100m butterfly; and bronze medals in the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays.
In the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Oleksiak won a silver in the 4x100m freestyle re-
lay and bronze medals in the 4x100m medley relay and the 4x200m freestyle relay.
Other East Toronto athletes that Beach Metro Community News is aware of that took part in the 2024 Paris Olympics were park skateboarder Faye De Fazio Ebert, 14; and Balmy Beach Canoe Club members Courtney Stott and Nick Matveev. De Fazio Eberet, the youngest member of the Canadian Olympic team in Paris, did not reach the finals of her event.
Stott competed as a member of Canada’s K-4 500-metre women’s team in Paris. The team did not reach the finals of the event.
Matveev also competed in the K-4 500 metre race as a member of the Canadian men’s team. The team did not reach the finals of the event.
PHOTO: DARREN CALABRESE/COC
Team Canada’s men’s 4-x-100 relay team of Andre De Grasse, Brendon Rodney, Jerome Blake, and Aaron Brown pose with with their gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France on Friday, Aug. 9.
PHOTO: SUSAN LEGGE
Balmy Beach Canoe Club members Nick Matveev and Courtney Stott at the club prior to heading to the Olympic Games in Paris.
Penny Oleksiak speaks at a fundraiser for the Daily Bread Food Bank in Kew Gardens park in this Beach Metro Community News file photo.
Police identify man fatally shot in laneway by Joseph Duggan Road
DETECTIVES WITH the Toronto police Homicide Unit are continuing to investigate the shooting death of a 21-year-old man on the night of Thursday, Aug. 8, in the Beach.
Police have identified the shooting victim as Quebec resident Dacia Mbongo, 21. His identity and a photo were released by police on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 10.
The day after the shooting, police said they were still working on identifying the man who was shot near Joseph Duggan Road (southeast of Woodbine Avenue and Queen Street East just north of Lake Shore Boulevard East). The man was found without any identification on him, police said at the time.
According to police, a group of males were arguing in the area and then a number of gunshots were heard at approximately 10:40 p.m. on Aug. 8.
Mbongo was found in a laneway east of Joseph Duggan Road by officers responding to the reports of shots being heard. He was rushed to hospital where he later died.
Mbongo is Toronto’s 52nd homicide of 2024.
Police said on Aug. 9 that they are looking for two-to-three suspects in connection with the fatal shooting.
The shooting is also believed to be target-
ed, police said.
As of Sunday, Aug. 18, police have not released any further information regarding suspect descriptions or the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at 416-808-7400, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477 or online at www.222tips.com
A view of the property on the north side of Queen Street East between Orchard Park Boulevard and Kingston Road. The back of the Murphy’s Law building can be seen on the right.
PHOTO: AMARACHI AMADIKE
Questions raised over future of condo project on Murphy’s Law site at Queen and Kingston
By Amarachi Amadike
ALTHOUGH THE reasons behind its stalled development are unclear, The Sud Group’s The Beach House condo project at Queen Street East and Kingston Road appears to be on hold.
Since the properties at 1684, 1698, 1700, and 1702 Queen St. E. were demolished in order to give way for the developer’s six-storey mixed-use building in 2021, the site has appeared to be deserted, leaving an “ugly mess of old foundations and stagnant mosquito breeding water”, according to one long-time resident.
Nigel Burnett, who has been a resident in the neighbourhood since 1978, told Beach Metro Community News that the site appears abandoned with easy access for children to potentially play in the harmful environment.
“You don’t need to be an engineer to figure out how to get in,” said Burnett.
Scattered behind an easily penetrable fence that runs along Queen Street East and Orchard Park Boulevard are about a dozen unused barrels sitting beside the remnants of what was once the Days Inn Hotel at 1684 Queen St. E.
Just prior to its demolition, the hotel, which had been around for almost 90 years and was known for decades as the Orchard Park Hotel (then the Orchard Park Tavern), was utilized as a YWCA shelter for women experiencing homelessness as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, however, the hotel has been demolished and not much other work appears to have been done on the site.
Burnett urges officials to ensure the land doesn’t continue to be wasted considering the city’s struggles with homelessness. “Let’s do something,” he said. “Or lets (clean it up) and have some homeless people live here. Use this big space. It’s a huge garbage dump.”
Burnett said that he has been in contact with Beaches-East York Councillor Brad
Bradford’s office in order to persuade them to apply pressure on the developer regarding the use of the site.
“They’re taking up two feet of the sidewalk,” said Burnett.
“Are they paying rent on the sidewalk? If I have a cafe and take up space on the sidewalk, I have to pay a fee. These guys are taking up 100 metres of the sidewalk. That’s (the community’s) sidewalk.”
According to Councillor Bradford’s office, they have been in touch with the developer “within the past few months” and have encouraged them to move ahead with developing the site.
“Unfortunately we’re not aware of why it has been sitting idle, as it had received zoning approval from the city in July 2022,” read an email response from Bradford’s office.
On March 10, 2023, a new architectural plan was submitted to the City of Toronto for The Sud Group’s project at the site.
The plan confirms that there will be 91 units in the development comprising three one-bedroom units; four one-bedroom units with a den; 15 two-bedroom units; 56 two-bedroom units with a den; four three-bedroom units; and nine three-bedroom units with a den.
The developers will also provide 56 car parking spaces as well as bicycle parking spaces.
The site’s historic former Imperial Bank of Canada building (which recently operated as the popular Murphy’s Law tavern at 1702 Queen St. E. on the northwest corner with Kingston Road) was built in 1913 and has been designated as “of historic value” under the Ontario Heritage Act by Toronto Council. The building’s façade will be maintained and it will not be demolished as part of the condo project.
Beach Metro Community News reached out to The Sud Group for an update on development plans for the site, but has not received a response.
PHOTO: TORONTO POLICE SERVICE
Quebec resident Dacia Mbongo, 21, has been identified by Toronto police as the man shot and killed near Joseph Duggan Road on the night of Thursday, Aug. 8.
Girls diagnosed with scoliosis need to know that they are not alone
What did the month of June mean to you?
School is over? Summer is here? Time to relax?
For me, it meant raising awareness for scoliosis, which affects about 100,000 Canadians, mostly girls.
June was National Scoliosis Awareness Month in Canada.
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature in the spine in either an S or C shape, which can severely affect posture.
It can be very painful and potentially impact the lungs and respiratory system.
If it’s caught early, before an individual has finished growing, and depending on the severity of the curve, the conventional treatment is often to wear a back brace.
A back brace is a hard corset moulded to the body to prevent the spine from continuing to curve. Another treatment option may be surgery when an individual’s
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curve is more severe. There are also scoliosis-specific exercises that can help manage pain and improve posture.
I got diagnosed when I was nine years old. My doctor recommended that I wear a back brace for 22 hours a day.
Just the thought of having to wear a hard corset all day was overwhelming and scary at first. It was uncomfortable, but my body adjusted quickly.
I had never met anyone else with scoliosis, so I felt alone until I found the peer scoliosis support group, Curvy Girls.
In the Curvy Girls group, I met others who were also bracing and experiencing similar emotions and difficulties.
I gained confidence and learned many great tips on how to manage my day to day life while wearing a brace. I am so grateful for their support.
I want to help those who are just starting out on their own scoliosis journey, so I now lead the Curvy Girls Toronto Chapter. I want all girls diagnosed with scoliosis to know they are not alone and can come to Curvy Girls for support. A scoliosis diagnosis is not
something to fear.
As we say in Curvy Girls, you may be bent, but you are not broken and you are scoliosis strong.
If you are concerned that you or your child may have scoliosis, I encourage you to speak with your doctor and get checked as soon as possible.
For more information, please visit www.curvygirlsscoliosis.com
-- Maddie O’Rourke is a Monarch Park Collegiate Institute student and the leader of a girls scoliosis support group, Curvy Girls, for the Toronto Chapter.
More information on Kew Beach Sunday School
Re: ‘Time capsule a reminder of the value of newspapers,’, In My Opinion, June 25, Beach Metro Community News.
What a surprise when I tripped over the June 25 issue of Beach Metro Community News, a week after Canada Day!
Twice over the last quarter century, I started some research that noted the Kew Beach Presbyterian Church Sunday School Courcelette Mission, and I had copied a two paragraph account from the-then Kew Beach United Church’s 1942-43 and 1957 Anniversary books.
It’s hard to believe it is exactly a century since the very building was opened for its initial purpose of reaching the children from up the ridge way above the Scarborough Bluffs in the new neighbourhood carved out of the rural township with streets named after some of Canada’s military battles in the South African (Anglo-Boer
War) conflict, and the First World War.
My present congregation of St. Andrew’s Scarborough Presbyterian Church also started “The Sunbeam Sunday School” in Isabella Walton’s house on the southeast corner of Birchmount Road and Eglinton Avenue in 1919, and other congregations did likewise.
We also saw the start of Scarborough Bluffs Presbyterian Mission, now St. Paul’s United Church Cliffside, in 1921-22.
If you notice the words Presbyterian Church and United Church, this had its effects on the Courcelette Mission.
In January 1925, Kew Beach answered the Referendum (United Church of Canada Act) by voting to enter the United Church; but not unanimously.
Beaches (Continuing) Presbyterian Church began at this time, and I didn’t get far enough to investigate if the Courcelette Mis-
sion adherents had some support in the “Minority” Beaches group.
The United Church (I suspect that Rev. J. A. Miller fonds at the UC Archives might contain more details) sent a Minister from Burks Falls to begin church services there right after the United Church was founded in June 1925. Sadly, two ministers and three years later, the Mission closed at the end of 1928, and the building was sold, holding the datestone and time capsule until it was recently found.
However, as legendary radio newscaster Paul Harvey noted, there’s more to the story.
Beech Avenue Methodist, just west of Victoria Park Avenue, moved onto a site on Kingston Road, and with the Courcelette group, became Kingston Road United Church. They remain there almost 97 years later.
The Continuing Presbyterians, did resume ministry in the south-
west Scarborough area a couple of decades later (after the Great Depression and the Second World War) when Fallingbrook Presbyterian (“Continuing” moniker jettisoned in 1939) was launched by Beaches, and with the oversight of the Toronto, then East Toronto Presbyteries. I believe they recently celebrated their 75th Anniversary.
I’m happy that Beach United (successor to Kew Beach and the former Bellefair Methodist/United) has celebrated the contents of the Courcelette time capsule; and that Beach Metro Community News has noted this.
Perhaps I’ll get back to the two conceptual essays plans sitting in a file folder box!
Al Clarkson, Former docent/volunteer site liaison at the former National Presbyterian Museum, 2008-2018
On Sunday afternoon, June 22, I was in a nasty collision while bicycling on Gerrard Street East, approaching Woodbine Avenue.
Many passers-by offered me assistance.
A kind woman named Jo-Anne (not sure of the exact spelling) phoned my partner several times. Another named Alice walked my bicycle several blocks to my house and explained the situation to her. Someone propped up my head; someone got me water.
I want to thank all of those people so much.
You are the ones who make this a truly great neighbourhood.
My surgery was declared a success and more thanks to the paramedics and staff at Michael Garron Hospital. Nigel B. Thanks
Re: ‘Cartoon missed point of capital gains tax’, Letters, Page 7, July 16, Beach Metro Community News.
In response to a letter to the editor on July 16, supporting increased capital gains (CG) tax this year from our Ottawa leaders, I’ll tell you the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is inflexible.
I paid a huge amount of CG last cycle that I simply could not afford.
I had to renovate my only bathroom because the tub began to fall through the living room ceiling. To fix the bathroom, I had to sell stock to pay for the emergency work. The stock was in lieu of cash payment for payment for work by a company that collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Because my savings are illiquid and locked in my home, I had to sell stock double the amount of the cost of renovation to pay the CG tax to the inflexible CRA.
As a very senior 80 year old I was stuck. Poor work pension,
standard government pension and old age benefit. I still hope to work a few days a month to enjoy shopping.
If I had not had the stock to sell, I’d have lost my home. ...and the stock was a nest egg for my kids. My net worth was halved.
Consider this, if I had bought stock it would have been because I did the research, I took the risk and I earned the money by supporting a Canadian company. What gives CRA the moral right to take 50 per cent (now 75 per cent) of the return on investment into a Canadian venture?
If CG tax were reduced to zero, the wealthy would invest their surplus in Canada with both hands. What else would they do? The CRA would ultimately benefit and so would all Canadians. The tax act reform needs to consider the longterm loss to Canada from capital gains income.
Francis Manns
Cartoon was ‘brave and truthful’
Re: ‘Cartoon missed point of capital gains tax’, and ‘Cartoon was opportunistic and inane’, Letters, Page 7, July 16, Beach Metro Community News.
I happened to like Bill Suddick’s cartoon about the capital gains increase, as I usually enjoy them.
Your two letter writers found it “misleading” and “childish”, while I thought it was indeed brave and truthful.
There are many seniors (the majority) who will not have a public pension and have saved tirelessly to get by.
Many seniors have had to help their children and grandchildren out due to the excessive spending of our government. We have a deficit of $40 billion! And yet just recently, $9 million was spent on a condo in NYC for a Consul General.
Any extra amount that the government can squeeze from seniors etc... will not help our kids afford homes. A small home starts at $1 million dollars. Who can afford that, even with a small boost in a tax credit?
As for rent, if you tax the landlord, it will be passed down. Money that has been invested, was already taxed on income, it is not “scot-free” as was written in one of the letters. Canada needs people to want to invest here. ‘“Fairness” is just a buzzword if it cannot translate into reality. I support the social programs and also expect responsible budgeting and spending from our leaders which has not been happening.
G. Fogel
Community Calendar
AUG. 22: A Senior Moment luncheon at Outrigger, 2232 Queen St. E., 1:30 p.m. To R.S.V.P., please text Colleen 647-829-8042. Visit us on Facebook.
AUG. 24: Monarch Park Collegiate 70s Reunion at the Balmy Beach Club, 360 Lake Front, 5:30 p.m.-midnight. Celebrating Monarch Park’s 60th anniversary. Live band and DJ, BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs, and a silent auction (donations welcome. Please contact Andre Buhot 416-985-1176). Tickets $50. Ticket payment info and general info: www.monarchparkreunion.ca
AUG. 24: Appliance Fix-It Event at Main Street Library, 137 Main St., 1-4 p.m. Learn how to fix your broken household items for free from home electronics, small appliance & furniture, and general housewares fixers. One item per person. First come, first served. Registration ends at 3:30 p.m. Wheelchair accessible. Info: repaircafetoronto.ca
AUG. 27: Gardening Group at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., 8-9:30 a.m. Anyone is welcome to dropin - no gardening experience is necessary! One of our goals is to increase the biodiversity of our green space. For future dates & more info: beachunitedchurch.com
AUG. 31: Historical Walk with Beach Metro history columnist Gene Domagala at St. John’s Cemetery, 1 p.m. Meet at the northwest corner of Kingston Rd. and Woodbine Ave.
SEPT. 7: Live Music and BBQ at RCL Br. 1/42, 243 Coxwell Ave., 4 p.m. Hamburger or hot dog, salad and dessert $10. Outdoors on the patio! Info: 416-465-0120
SEPT. 8: Welcome Sunday at St. John’s Norway Anglican Church, 470 Woodbine Ave. Family-friendly worship at 10:30 a.m., parking lot party at 11:30 a.m. BBQ, bouncy castle, face painting, and more. All neighbours welcome! Info: www.stjohnsnorway.com
SEPT. 10: Seniors Lunch at RCL Branch 1/42, 243 Coxwell Ave., 1 p.m. Free for seniors over 65, $5 for everyone else. Featuring music by The Barons. Info: 416-465-0120
SEPT. 12: Beaches Sandbox Live Music: Jazz and Blues at 2181 Queen St. E., 8 p.m., featuring nternational blues legend Harrison Kennedy and Toronto-based jazz & blues brass aficionado Trombone Charlotte, hosted by award-winning singer and entertainer Shakura S’Aida. Get tickets at beachessandbox.com
SEPT. 14: Music for the Soul at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., 4:30 p.m. Featuring Mark Battenberg’s ‘Seven Aspects of the Cosmic Dancer’, a musical meditation and journey with Mark on guitar, Debbie Danbrook (Shakuhachi Flute Master), Dr. Dobrochna Zubek (cello) and DeAnn DeGruijter (narrator). Info & tickets: www.beachunitedchurch.com
SEPT. 14: Centre 55 Fall Community Fair at Beaches Recreation Centre, 6 Williamson Rd., 1-4 p.m. Live music, family fun activities, new Centre 55 rebrand swag, and more! Proceeds raised go toward Centre programs. Info: www.centre55.com
SEPT. 15: Beaches Terry Fox Run at Woodbine Beach Park, 1675 Lake Shore Blvd. E., 9 a.m. Register at the pavilion across from the Woodbine Beach Bathing Station beginning at 8:30 a.m. or in advance at https://run.terryfox.ca/55940
SEPT. 16: Jam Nite at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., 7 p.m. Bring your voice, your instrument, a song to share, and join us for a fun, relaxed jam session. All skill levels are welcome – even complete beginners; all you need is enthusiasm to make music together. All ages are welcome! Info: www.beachunitedchurch.com
SEPT. 16-20: Legion Week by RCL Branch 11 at host Branch 22, 1240 Woodbine Ave., Mon-Thurs 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. This free event is open to the public and features a Canadian history learning experience, memorabilia of veterans past and present, uniforms to try on, and veterans on hand to talk with. Teachers call for appt. time for students’ tour: Helen Pearce 416-690-6388 or helends4pearce@bell.net
SEPT. 21: Acoustic Harvest presents The Friends of Fiddler’s Green at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St., 8 p.m. Tickets: $35 advance at Ticketscene. ca and at www.acousticharvest.ca. Also with the alternate option to send an E-transfer to: acousticharvest@proton.me Tickets at the door: $40 cash only.
FRIDAYS: GRANTFUL FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP Food Bank and Soup Kitchen, 2029 Gerrard Street E., 3:30-6 p.m. Registration is required. New clients must present identification for members in their household on their first visit. Time slots are handed out and clients are encouraged to arrive at the food bank the time slot they selected. Info: 416 -690-5169 1001 FRIDAY NIGHTS OF STORYTELLING at St. David’s Parish Hall, 49 Donlands Ave., 8-10 p.m. Since 1978, storytellers and listeners have gathered for an open evening of oral stories – traditional tales, personal experience, literary stories, original stories, ballads and more, all told through the human voice. New storytellers always welcome. PWYC $5 suggested. GERRARD ASHDALE LIBRARY, 1432 Gerrard St. E. •Aug 24: Arts Mentor in Residence Workshop - Managing Copyright and Intellectual Property, 1-2:30 p.m. Part of a series of workshops on the business of being an artist. Drop-in. Free. More info: www.tpl.ca/artir •Aug 24 & 31: Chess Club, 1-4 p.m. Drop in for a few casual games of chess in a welcoming environment. Free. For all ages. •Aug 27: Sushi-Making for Young Adults, 6-7 p.m. For ages 18-24 only. Learn to make sushi with Chef Sang Kim. Free. Register: 416-393-7717 SPANISH LESSONS for the 55+ community, 8-week workshop. Starts Sept. 9 and will be held at two different locations: Beach United Church: Mondays 10 a.m.; Community Centre 55: Wednesdays 6 p.m. No experience needed. Info: Maria 289-659-8973, www.meaningfullessons.com/events/ TORONTO WALKING SOCCER CLUB offers a new way to enjoy the beautiful game. Join us at Wood-
bine Park (Tuesdays at 10 a.m.) and Cherry Beach (Saturdays at 10 a.m.). Age range: 50-90. Free to try for your first time, and an affordable program thereafter. Info: www.torontowalkingsoccer.com
CALL FOR CHRISTMAS MARKET VENDORS!
If you are interested in being a vendor at Beach United’s Christmas Market on Saturday, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., please visit our website for the application form and fees: beachunitedchurch.com
BEACH PHOTO CLUB. Are you interested in photography? We invite all shutterbugs to check out our local photo club. We offer a range of activities including guest speakers, mentorship, opportunities to share your work, photo excursions, competitions, practical seminars and more! We meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from September to June, 7-9:30 p.m., at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave. (unless specified in program). Info: beachphotoclub.com or email beachphotoclub@gmail.com
BEACHES MENTAL WELLNESS GROUP meets each Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St. at Swanwick. Info: www.mentalwellness. help. Or join us most nights of the week on Zoom. Go to: https://www.meetup.com. Ask to join us: Mental Wellness Peer-to-Peer Support-Groups
A A at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St., Saturdays 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Info: 416-691-1113
AL- ANON at Community Centre 55, 97 Main St., Wednesdays 7:15 p.m. Alateen members are welcome to attend. Info: 416-691-1113
CHURCHES
THE CHURCH OF ST. AIDAN (Anglican), 2423 Queen St. E., welcomes you to join us for Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m. (with music and children’s programs). Nursery care for infants and toddlers is available during the service. Our energetic, active faith community is committed to following Jesus as we gather for meaningful worship, spiritual growth, and community engagement. We live this out through our vibrant children’s and youth programs, diverse sacred music offerings, and active community outreach and environmental stewardship ministries. Our Ecospirituality Group is hosting a film screening of Kiss the Ground (Aug. 21) at 7 p.m. at the church. Info: www.staidansinthebeach.com, 416-691-2222
ST. SAVIOUR’S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 43 Kimberley Ave. at Swanwick. All are welcome. Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. - both in person and via Zoom. Outside Blessing Box - Take what you need, give what you can. Sermons available on Proclamation! Podcast (now available for free on iTunes). Info: 416-699-6512, www.stsaviours. ca, https://www.facebook.com/churchwithreddoor/ ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST NORWAY Anglican Church, 470 Woodbine Ave. Welcome to St. John the Baptist Norway! We are a growing community which enjoys the Anglican expression of the Christian faith. We gather to connect with one another and worship God on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. In-Person/Livestream. We have a Food Pantry open on Monday mornings from 10 a.m.-12 noon. Come and see. Info: stjohnsnorway.com, 416-691-4560
BEACH UNITED CHURCH, 140 Wineva Ave., invites you to share in worship with us each week. We offer a combination of in person and YouTube livestream opportunities on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Services are led by our creative and passionate music director Steven Webb and our minister Rev. Greg Daly. In addition to Sunday services, Beach United Church offers a variety of inspirational music and educational programs open to the entire Beach community. Links and info: www.beachunitedchurch.com
FALLINGBROOK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 35 Wood Glen Rd. at Kingston Road. Please join us for worship on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Angela J. Cluney. All are welcome! Fallingbrook is an affirming congregation and is accessible! Please join us on Live Stream via Facebook or through our church website at 10:20 a.m. for our Prelude with our Music Director Nick Jessome. Weekly Worship services and Special Music selections are posted for viewing on our website. For more details about our church activities including: Bible Study, Book Club, Choir, Tea Time, Hobby Circle, Wee Folks or other upcoming activities, please contact us at fboffice@rogers.com or 416-699-3084. Info: www.fallingbrookpresbyterianchurch. com. Easy access by TTC from the Victoria Park subway. BEACHES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 65 Glen Manor Drive. (S of Queen). We are an inclusive and affirming congregation in the heart of the Beach. BPC has strong commitments to community service and social justice issues. We provide non-perishable food for those in need through our Free Food Pantry located outside the church building. Our Refugee Commitee has been in operation for many years helping families and individuals arrive and start a new life in Canada. On the 2nd Wednesday of every month we host a Coffee Outreach from 1-3 p.m., an opportunity for people in the neighbourhood to gather for coffee, snacks and fellowship. Sunday morning services are at 10 a.m. Info and links: www.beacheschurch.org or 416-699-5871. Minister: The Reverend Katherine McCloskey ST. JOHN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 794 Kingston Rd., 2 blks. east of Main St. Weekend Masses: Sat. Vigil at 4:30 pm, Sun. 9 & 11 am. Weekday Masses with Rosary: Tue. - Fri. Doors open and Rosary begins at 7:45 am followed by Mass at 8:15 am. Confessions every Sat. 3:45 to 4:15 pm or by appt. Info: stjohnsto.archtoronto.org, 416-698-1105 GRANT AME CHURCH, 2029 Gerrard St E., invites you to our Worship Service Sundays at 11 a.m. in person or live streamed on ZOOM, YouTube and Facebook. Bible Study Wednesdays 7 p.m. on ZOOM. Please join us in prayer Wednesday mornings at 6:30 a.m. on our prayer line. DialIn No.: 1 587 405 1252 Access
Deja Views
Kingston Road in 1952
By David Van Dyke
This archival photo (above) was taken on Kingston Road near Dundas Street East in July of 1952.
If you look closely, you can see a man hiding among the shrubbery of the house in the foreground. Perhaps he was a very timid man, or maybe he didn’t want to be seen on Kingston Road.
In any case, the drug store behind him is still in business today. Woods Drug is now known as Woods Pharmacy. Do you have an old photo of Kingston Road you would like to share with our readers? Please contact me at gdvandyke61@gmail.com
Beaches Terry Fox Run slated for Sept. 15
THE 2024 Toronto-Beaches
Terry Fox Run is slated to take place on Sunday, Sept. 15. The run begins at Woodbine Beach Park, 1675 Lake Shore Blvd. E., at 9 a.m. and participants are welcome to join in anytime up to 1 p.m.
The Terry Fox Run has been raising funds for cancer research since 1981.
The run is held in memory of Terry Fox who began his Marathon of Hope to raise awareness of and funding for cancer research in 1980.
Everyone is welcome to take part in the Beaches Terry Fox Run as it is accessible for runners, walkers, cyclists, people using wheelchairs and people pushing strollers. Those taking part
can choose to do either a five or a 10-kilometre route along the Boardwalk and into Ashbridges Bay Park. Registration for the run will begin at the pavilion across from the Woodbine Beach Bathing Station at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 15. Participants in this year’s run can also register in advance at https://run.terryfox. ca/55940
PHOTO: CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES
PHOTO: DAVID VAN DYKE
Nicole’s Hair Studio celebrates 15 years of elevating client experiences and professional excellence
This year marks a significant milestone for Nicole DeJong as she celebrated the 15th anniversary of Nicole’s Hair Studio, a salon that has become a staple in the community for exceptional hair care and client service.
Nicole, who has been a hairstylist for 26 years, began her career working in various local studios before deciding to open her own. With a passion for hair and beauty, she combined her experiences from previous studios with a commitment to “elevating client experiences.” She founded a business dedicated not only to providing high-quality, environmentally-conscious hair care but also to nurturing the professional development of her team.
“Professional development is mandatory for all the stylists here,” Nicole explained, emphasizing her role as a mentor and leader. “I take my role as a stylist, business owner, and mentor very seriously and understand that the best way to serve clients is to have a well-educated and trained team.”
This dedication to ongoing education is evident in the studio’s reputation, with online reviewers praising the stylists at Nicole’s as “intuitive and thoughtful” and even “hair geniuses.” Many clients have shared that their experiences at the studio were “superior,” which is clear evidence of the high standards Nicole has set.
Nicole’s commitment to her clients goes beyond just providing excellent haircuts and treatments; it’s about creating an environment where clients feel genuinely cared for.
“I think some people don’t realize how important hair is,” she said. “Hair holds emotions, it holds trauma, it can make you feel amazing, or it can make you feel stressed.” Nicole considers her most significant achievement as a salon owner to be her impact on people’s lives. She often hears from clients how much they “needed that confidence boost,” reinforcing her belief that “hair care is self-care.”
In addition to serving her clients, Nicole is also deeply committed to serving the community. The studio regularly supports local schools with fundraising efforts, further cementing its role as a positive force in the neighbourhood.
Understanding that hair care continues when a client leaves the salon, Nicole has implemented mandatory consultations to ensure clients get the service they want and are equipped with the knowledge they need to maintain their hair between visits. “Even with our longest-standing clients, stylists still check in to make sure that clients get the outcome they want with each visit,” Nicole said.
This personalized approach allows the Nicole’s Hair Studio team to support their clients’ visions and help them present themselves to the world in the way they desire.
“We could have a client who’s been coming for 10 years, getting the same cut, colour, and blowout, and one day, she could decide she wants a bright pink bob cut. So, we always make a point to be sure that we’re supporting our client’s vision,” Nicole shared.
In addition to standard services like cuts, colouring, and blowouts, Nicole’s Hair Studio offers specialized treatments, including scalp treatments, hair steaming, and restorative Keratin treatments. The studio also has a curl specialist, Julie, who started as a studio assistant and, under Nicole’s mentorship, pursued a career specializing in curly hair. This diversity in services and expertise reflects the studio’s commitment to catering to its diverse clientele.
In addition to Nicole and Julie, Nicole’s Hair Studio is supported by a dedicated team
that includes Tanya, who has been with the studio for eight years, Jade, who is nearing her second year, and Laura, who joined the team last year. Adding to the welcoming atmosphere is Nicole’s partner of nearly 30 years, Paul. Recently retired from his career in healthcare, Paul often accompanies Nicole to the studio, offering his support. His presence is cherished by both clients and staff, contributing to the warm and inviting environment that defines the salon. “Paul was one of the biggest supports for me when I was thinking about opening my own studio,” Nicole shared. His encouragement, along with the loyalty of her existing client base, gave her the confidence to make the leap and open her studio on Queen Street East at Balsam Avenue.
Since opening, the studio’s success and client list have grown steadily, and in November, Nicole expanded the space to include more chairs for stylists who share her passion for improving the lives of others through personalized hair care.
Her mission as a salon owner is clear: “I don’t want people just to come to get their haircut and feel good in the chair; I want them to feel amazing from the moment they walk out to when they return for a touch-up. I want to hear about all the compliments they got, how they felt confident and beautiful because that’s why I do this.”
Nicole’s dedication to her craft and her team has solidified Nicole’s Hair Studio as a trusted studio for hair excellence in the community. The studio is proudly associated with Green Circle Salons, an organization dedicated to environmental responsibility within the beauty industry. For Nicole, high-quality hair care at her studio extends beyond the results achieved in the chair; it also involves using eco-friendly products and practices that align with the salon’s values.
As she continues to grow her brand, she remains committed to encouraging new generations of hair care professionals to go the extra mile for their clients, guaranteeing that every person who walks through the door leaves feeling not just satisfied but feeling truly transformed. To extend her heartfelt thanks to the community for years of support, Nicole is offering a complimentary customized hair and scalp treatment (valued at $50) with any other hair service.
At Nicole’s Hair Studio, these treatments have always been a staple service, but recently soared in popularity due to social media self-care trends, offering deep nourishment and revitalization for healthier, more vibrant hair. This special offer is available until the end of September, so be sure to request it when booking your appointment.
Nicole’s Hair Studio is located at 2194 Queen St. E. Browse services on their website at www.nicoleshairstudio.com and easily book appointments or make inquiries by phone at 647-746-4247 or email the studio at nicoleshairstudio@gmail.com.
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PHOTO SUBMITTED BY NICOLE DEJONG
Nicole DeJong marks 15 years of excellence at Nicole’s Hair Studio located at 2194 Queen St. E, where dedication to professional growth and personalized client care defines their success.
Neighbourhood Stops and Shops
Toronto Nature School continues growing alongside its students
Children and youth across Canada are seriously behind in terms of physical fitness and outdoor time, according to a cross-country report card from ParticipACTION that came out this spring.
But, this sure isn’t the case at Toronto Nature School, a unique private school operating out of the Beach that takes a natural and holistic approach to early education.
Founded by Julia Donnelly O’Neill, the school has been a beacon of outdoor learning and development, thriving since its inception. Toronto Nature School, initially known as Beaches Nature School, began as a 10-week, three-day-a-week program in 2020 in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic closures.
Donnelly O’Neill, an Ontario Certified Elementary Teacher with a passion for outdoor education, was inspired by her collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation in 2014, where she saw firsthand the benefits of integrating nature into the curriculum. Her vision was to create a learning environment that leveraged the outdoors, and it resonated deeply with parents and students.
The overwhelming success of the initial program led Donnelly O’Neill to incorporate the program as Toronto Nature School and establish an official program space in the Beach in 2021. Since then, the school has been growing alongside its students, continually expanding its offerings to meet the needs of the community. Needs that are often unable to be met in more formal educational settings.
One of the most exciting developments is the launch of the school’s full-day kindergarten program, which will start this September. Due to numerous parent requests, Donnelly O’Neill and her team have been hard at work creating a comprehensive kindergarten program that combines forest school principles and philosophy with inspiration from the four frames of the Ministry of Education’s kindergarten curriculum. This one-of-akind immersive experience ensures children are ready to enter Grade 1 in the public school system or transition to the next stage of their learning journey.
“Our full-time kindergarten option provides a different choice from the Ministry of Education’s full-day kindergarten program while still being in line with ministry standards,” said Donnelly O’Neill, emphasizing that the teaching of literacy and math is incorporated into the daily schedule while op-
Donnelly O’Neill, founder of Toronto Nature School, stands in Kew Gardens, one of the outdoor spots frequently visited by her classes.
portunities for learning in all subjects are integrated into outdoor exploration time.
In addition to the fullday kindergarten program, Toronto Nature School is introducing a monthly program called “Forest Fridays” for school-aged children in grades 4-6. This once-amonth program allows older children to spend a day in nature, learning essential life skills and educational lessons that might not be available in more structured school settings.
“You can’t ‘age out of nature’, so we wanted to provide this opportunity for older kids to get some of what we offer in our programming,” says Julia, sharing that this type of program had been heavily requested over the past several years as some of the school’s original students began aging out of the programming.
Forest Fridays are designed to bridge the gap between traditional education and the holistic, naturebased approach of Toronto Nature School. Children will have the chance to learn and grow through hands-on activities, fostering a deeper connection with the natural world and enhancing their overall well-being. The program aims to provide a break from the typical classroom environment, offering a unique and enriching experience that complements their regular schooling.
In addition to its new offerings, Toronto Nature School has a wide range of programs for ages three to 12, including before and after school care, camps, and weekend clubs. The After School Adventure Club and Morning Walk Before Care programs focus on engaging kids with outdoor activities and fostering a connection with nature. The Weekend Nature Club offers children aged four to 10 an exciting three-hour exploration of the beach and forest, combining educational experiences with the benefits of being outdoors. The mission of Toronto Nature School is to create an accessible outdoor learning space for children that celebrates the
environmental diversity of the urban community. The school emphasizes play and nature-based learning as the central paths to healthy and happy development. By integrating the Ontario curriculum with outdoor education, the school ensures children receive a well-rounded education that nurtures both their academic and personal growth.
Donnelly O’Neill’s vision for the school continues to evolve as she is dedicated to providing the best possible educational experience for her students. The program’s success is a testament to the benefits of outdoor learning and its positive impact on children’s development. Parents have told Donnelly O’Neill that enrolling their child in the program has completely shifted dynamics at home and in other educational experiences.
Toronto Nature School tailors its curriculum to meet kids where they are, using play and nature to scaffold learning, which makes it easier for kids to focus and learn. Numerous reports and data show that in more formally structured education settings, children (particularly boys) struggle to meet the requirements and standards set out by the Ministry of Education, often being labelled as having ‘bad behaviour’ or potentially being misdiagnosed with a learning disability.
Toronto Nature School’s commitment to providing a unique and enriching educational experience ensures its students are not just prepared for academic success, but also for a lifetime of learning and connection with the natural world. Donnelly O’Neill’s innovative approach to education continues to receive significant interest and positive feedback from families, and she’s eager to continue expanding her programming to reach more children. For more on the Toronto Nature School (2245 Queen St. E. Lower Level), visit https://torontonatureschool.ca/ or email hello@torontonatureschool. ca about enrolment.
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Julia
Reel Beach: Movies in East Toronto
A lake-side chat with Thomas Craig of Murdoch Mysteries
BeRnie FletcheR
There’s a lovely view of the lake from the verandah of the Balmy Beach Club where I recently had the pleasure of a chat over breakfast with actor Thomas Craig of Murdoch Mysteries
The amiable Brit is as entertaining in person as he is on television and, yes, the Yorkshire accent is authentic.
Thomas Craig was born Craig Thompson in Sheffield, England in 1962. There already was an actor by that name in the union so he had to adopt his stage name.
BF: Does everybody call you Tom or Craig?
TC: Tom. Because my surname was Thompson I was called Tommy from a young age, Tom as a nickname so I’ve never really been called Craig. Only family call me Craig. When I get called Craig,
I know I’m in trouble. “Craig!”
BF: CBC viewers know you as Inspector Thomas Brackenreid, but you’ve had an interesting career in England. Can you tell us about how you got into acting?
TC: I was a plumber for six years when I left school. I’d always been able to read from an early age and I was obsessed with reading the sports pages. Whenever we held assemblies in my junior school, I was always picked to read. I quite enjoyed it, the aspect of getting up in front of people, so when I met this girl in a bar when I was about 19, 20, she told me that she did acting and dancing. I just followed her into these classes and did it as a hobby for a couple of years, improvisation class once a week.
After about a year the guy teaching asked me if I had ever thought of going to drama school and I was like, no, I don’t know anything about drama school. We worked for another year on
speeches and technique and I auditioned for drama school and I got in. I went to London for three years to study drama when I was 22, so I was a plumber from 16 to 22, drama school from 22 to 25 and I’ve been a professional actor ever since.
BF: The Sixties were a terrific time for British cinema and music. Did that have an effect on you as a kld?
TC: No, I was too young. I was more influenced by my dad letting me stay up late to watch Burt Lancaster, John Wayne, Cagney films. I found a love of acting in cinema from the films my dad liked. If there was a late-night film, he’d say you can stay up and watch this, it’s a great movie. As for the music, well, that was on the whole time. The two songs I remember from being small are Yesterday by the Beatles and Downtown by Pet Clark.
BF: You’ve been part of long-
running television series like Coronation Street and Murdoch Mysteries which is now filming an 18th season. To what do you attribute the lasting appeal of these fan favourites?
TC: I think you have to have characters that people like. When I was on Coronation Street, people didn’t like me, my character. I always thought if I ever got in a soap, I’d be quite a favourite because I think I’m quite personable, but actually my character wasn’t likeable. I didn’t care about that as an actor, but I totally had a shelf life on “Corrie” because my character wasn’t a pleasant person. So I lasted 2 and a 1/2 years and I did about 240 episodes.
BF: I read that it helped you getting the Murdoch role that you were in the 2001 Ken Loach film The Navigators
TC: The show-runner for Murdoch was Cal Coons who was casting Murdoch at the beginning and
he was a big Ken Loach fan. My show-reel had a scene from The Navigators that I’d done with Ken. Cal told me, “We thought if you’re good enough for Ken Loach, you’re good enough for us”.
BF: You spend part of the year Continued on Page 21
THURSDAY 5th – 6:30pm – 9:30pm SASHIKO MENDING
SATURDAY 7th – 10am to 1pm
KINTSUGI FOR BEGINNERS
WEDNESDAY 11th – 6:30pm to 9:30 pm
SILVER RING MAKING (PART 1)
THURSDAY 12th – 7pm to 9:00pm
THURSDAY 19th – 7pm to 9pm FALL DÉCOR WREATH MAKING
SATURDAY 21st – 10am to 1pm SEWING MACHINE BASICS
SUNDAY 8th – 2pm to 5:30pm WET FELTED PUMPKINS (PART 1) SUNDAY 22nd – 10:30am to 1:30 pm EMBROIDERED JEAN JACKETS
SUNDAY 22nd – 2:30pm to 5pm PRESSED FLOWER OR FERN STAINED GLASS
READ EASY: SIP, READ & SHARE WEDNESDAY 25th – 7pm to 9pm UFO (UNFINISHED OBJECTS) NIGHT
THURSDAY 13th – 6:30pm to 9:30pm
SEASONAL WATERCOLOUR PAINTING THURSDAY 26th – 6:30pm to 9pm PRESSED BOTANICAL COLLAGE
SATURDAY 14th – 2:30pm to 5:30pm CONTEMPORARY CALLIGRAPHY FRIDAY 27th – 7pm to 9pm
SUNDAY 15th – 10am to 1pm
CLAY EARRINGS
SUNDAY 15th – 2:30pm to 5:30pm
SATURDAY 13th – 2:30pm to 4pm WET FELTED PUMPKINS (PART 2)
WEDNESDAY 18th – 6:30pm to 9:30pm SILVER RING MAKING (PART 2)
Nature
Weekend
SPEECH LANGUAGE
PATHOLOGIST reg. Casplo
All ages, early language, L.D., articulation, reading, apraxia Leslie Rennie 647-994-8255 leslierennie@gmail.com
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
Your gateway to connecting with skilled professionals in our community
Interested in advertising your business in our Professional Directory? Contact carolin@beachmetro.com or 416-698-1164 x 22 for rates. Your Professional Directory ad also appears on our website: beachmetro.com
Lisa Romano-Dwyer BSc, MSW, PhD, RSW Registered Social Worker & Psychotherapist Lakeside Wellness Therapy Affiliates Individual & Couple Care Wellness Life Coaching 416-951-8280 www.modernsocialworker.ca
Carolyn Dallman Downes
Registered Psychotherapist Depression, Anxiety, Grief, Relationships. www.CarolynDallmanDownes.com 416-363-0065
Ask Psychotherapy Hub Individual, Couples & Group Therapy Specializing in ADHD, Anxiety, Eating Disorders 1529 Danforth Ave. (near Coxwell Stn) admin@asktherapyhub.ca 416-465-8482 www.asktherapy.ca
PSYCHOTHERAPY COUNSELLING
Catherine Allon, BSc, MEd Caring Counselling for Life & Relationship Issues 416-694-0232 www.energyawakening.com Spiritual Counselling
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Bert van Delft
Complete financial services
CHRISTINE KATO, B.Sc., D.V.M. KATO ANIMAL HOSPITAL 2830 Danforth Ave. (East of Dawes Rd.) 416-690-2112 Dogs, cats, pocket pets. Housecalls available.
HOUGHTON VETERINARY HOUSECALL SERVICES Vaccines, examinations, diagnostics, palliative care, and home euthanasia provided for your pets in the comfort of your own home. Dr. Barbara Houghton 647-221-5516
William F. Deneault Chartered Accountant
• Corporate & Personal Tax
• Specializing in small to medium business
• Financial advice
21 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 502 Tel: 416-962-2186
Kriens LaRose, LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
• Accounting services for owner-managed businesses.
• Personal and corporation income tax preparation.
• Audit and consulting services for not-for-profit organizations www.krienslarose.com 416-690-6800
Melani Norman CPA, CMA
Accounting Issues and Systems, Bookkeeping, Personal and Corporate Taxes Call 416-471-0337
Patrick Ruiz Professional Corporation CPA, CA An accountant you can count on For your Small Business Self-employed income & investments Real Estate Rentals 647-300-4062 • patrick@prtaxcpa.com
Dashwood & Dashwood
Barristers & Solicitors
Geoffrey J. Dashwood 961 Kingston Rd. Tel. 416-690-7222 Toronto, M4E 1S8 Fax. 416-690-8738
Snider & DiGregorio
Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries. 978 Kingston Road, Toronto, Ont., M4E 1S9 Tel: 416-699-0424 Fax: 416-699-0285 Email: info@sdlegal.ca
O’Reilly, Moll & Mian
Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries Public 300 Main Street 416-690-3324
Shelly Pereira, Paralegal Commissioner/Notary, Small Claims, Landlord & Tenant/other Tribunals, Municipal Offences, Letters & Mediation. Call for a Free 30 min. Consultation 647-693-6240 Toronto info@toronto-paralegal.net
Peter J. Salah Family Law Lawyer 124 Merton Street, Suite 300 We Collaborate, Negotiate & Litigate 416.752.8128 peter@salahlaw.ca www.salahlaw.ca
KAMRUL HAFIZ AHMED REAL ESTATE LAWYER 416 690 1855 [P 416 690 1866 [F 2972 DANFORTH AVE. Janet D’Arcy DC, FRCCSS (C) Chiropractor
QUINN Family Law
Shelley C. Quinn, LL.B., LL.M. (Family Law) 662 Broadview Ave. t. (416) 551-1025 www.QuinnFamilyLaw.ca
KATHRYN WRIGHT
Barrister & Solicitor Family Law & Mediation 416-699-8848 2239 Queen Street East www.kathrynwrightlaw.com kathrynwrightlaw@gmail.com
GARRY M. CASS
BARRISTER & SOLICITOR, TEP Wills/Estate Administration/Advice to Estate Trustees 416-767-CASS (2277) x 207 416-795-4899 (cell) 416-491-0273 (fax) garry@garrycass.com
Glover & Associates
Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries Real Estate, Family, Litigation Wills & Estates, Corporate 416-691-3700 Queen and Hammersmith
Beaches Family Law and MEDIATION Linda Bronicheski, J.D. 47 Main Street (at Lyall) 416-763-6884 Linda@BeachesFamilyLaw.com
DR. JOYCE FU
Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Yoga Perinatal & Pediatric Wellness https://jfuchiropractic.janeapp.com/ 1755 Queen St. E. 647-271-9020
Arts & Entertainment
Artbox Studio & Gallery on Kingston Road a welcoming and creative space for everyone
By Jack Skinner
THE ARTBOX Studio & Gallery on Kingston Road in southwest Scarborough is establishing a reputation as a place to be for those interested in creating, exploring and learning more about local art.
Located at 1226 Kingston Rd., close to the intersection of Fallingbrook and Kingston roads, the gallery and studio officially opened its doors earlier this year.
Natasha Fernandes-Aird, founder and coowner (along with her husband Marlon Aird) of Artbox Studio & Gallery, has been involved with art for pretty much her whole life.
She graduated from the Art Fundamentals program at Sheridan College which helped build the path to her honing her different creative skills in various mediums including acrylic and oil painting.
“I have been in the hospitality industry for over a decade which allowed me to connect with people and learn how to cater to their experiences,” said Fernandes-Aird. Fernandes-Aird was inspired by her mother Carla to begin hosting Artbox Events in 2016.
“In 2016, Artbox Events was born because my mother, Carla Fernandes, motivated me to show my work by hosting an exhibition,” said Fernandes-Aird. “She inspired me and gave me ideas on how to make them great.”
“I was an artist who hid my work and I noticed a lot of others did the same. I wanted to create a space for artists to show and sell
their work with the aim of it being approachable for guests to come have fun with art, no experience needed,” she said of the philosophy behind Artbox.
“Our goal is to connect our guests to their inner artist while enjoying themselves in a fun yet relaxed environment,” she said.
Fernandes-Aird said her mother was an inspiration to her, and she has opened the Artbox & Studio Gallery in her memory.
“My mother added unique elements to elevate Artbox and went to every event before she unfortunately lost her battle to cancer last summer. In April 2024 we opened Artbox Studio Gallery in honour of Carla Fernandes as she inspired it to be the welcoming, open and creative space that it is today”.
Artbox is a place where anyone can display their art, create pieces and sell their art.
Workshops for artists and those looking to learn about their inner artist are a key part of what Artbox offers.
“That is our main focus as we host weekly workshops that include glow-in-the-dark sensory painting, and other themed paint nights as well as sculpting, candle making and so much more,” said Fernandes-Aird.
Monthly exhibition evening gatherings with new art displays, create opportunities for local artists to sell their work at Artbox. The space can also be a venue for weddings, birthday parties, and other private events.
For more information on Artbox Studio & Gallery, please visit https://www.artboxstudiogallery.com/
Acoustic Harvest set to open season with Sept. 21 concert
SOUTHWEST SCARBOROUGH’S Acoustic Harvest will begin its 2024-2025 concert season on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Opening up what will be Acoustic Harvest’s 28th season will be Friends of Fiddler’s Green.
Founded in 1971, the members of Friends of Fiddler’s Green are Ian Bell, Alistair Brown, Grit Laskin, Jeff McClintock, Ian Robb and James Stephens.
All concerts take place at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St., in the Kingston and Midland roads area.
Performances begin at 8 p.m., and doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Also slated to perform this upcoming season as part of the Acoustic Harvest concert
Are you waking up to pee through
If going to the bathroom is waking you up through the night, then something’s not right. If you’ve gone through menopause, waking up once a night is considered normal. If you’re going 2-3 times a night (or more), it’s not.
Your bladder can disrupt the restorative sleep we all so desperately need, as it plays a vital role in our physical and mental functioning. Restorative sleep can be defined as five sleep stages of uninterrupted sleep, when your brain activity during sleep helps ‘restore’ your body and mind, essentially resetting you for another day. You’ll know if your sleep was restorative when you wake up feeling rested and refreshed.
On the other hand, disturbed sleep can be caused by the sensation of a full bladder, which causes you to get up and out of bed to use the washroom. When this occurs frequently throughout the night, it’s referred to as nocturia and it can impact your quality of life, not to mention health and productivity. So, if you’ve been waking up at night due to the urge to urinate, nocturia may be at play. And you may be making it worse if you’re restricting fluids, thinking that the frequency and urgency may be less if you consume less liquid. Unfortunately, this can have the opposite effect and irritate the bladder, causing more urgency and frequency (especially if you’re restricting non-caffeinated drinks). It’s important to stay hydrated, and sipping fluids throughout the day rather than chugging large amounts of liquid at once will help your nocturia. Decreasing or eliminating fluids 2-3 hours before bedtime will help too.
UROSPOT offers an innovative way to restore freedom and peace of mind for people living with nocturia and is a non-invasive solution for night waking.
UROSPOT combines technology, education and health coaching to help women (and men) say goodbye to nocturia, bladder leaks, urgency, prolapse, and other pelvic floor issues, simply by sitting on a chair. The best part is you remain fully-clothed, and the treatment is 100% non- invasive. Nothing goes in your body, and no one is touching you.
UROSPOT is located right in the heart of The Beach at 2128 Queen Street East. Book your complimentary consultation online at urospot.com/thebeach, or by calling (416) 521-3176.
“Before UROSPOT, I was getting up 3-4 times a night. Now I’m enjoying a full night’s rest. I’m so grateful.” - Julia, 53 BMN SPONSORED CONTENT
series are:
• Aleksi Campagne on Oct. 19;
• Bill Garrett and Sue Lothrup on Nov. 23;
• The Barrel Boys Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 8;
• Lynn Miles, with opener Treasa Levasseur, on Jan. 18;
• Julian Taylor on Feb. 15;
• Garnet Rogers on March 22; Jory Nash CD Release Party on April 26;
• The Healing Garden’s Benefit Concert featuring The Laws, James Gordon and Katherine Wheatley on May 24.
For ticket price information on Acoustic Harvest concerts, and how to order, please go to the website at https://www.acousticharvest.ca.
PHOTO: SUBMITTED
Natasha Fernandes-Aird, founder and owner of Artbox Studio & Gallery on Kingston Road near Fallingbrook Road.
Great hair doesn’t happen by chance.
2194 Queen Street East, Toronto tel: 647 - 746 - 4247 nicoleshairstudio@gmail.com
(July
The Main Menu
Jan Main
is an author, cooking instructor and caterer janmainskitchen@ gmail.com
Do you remember the taste of a lip-smacking chili sauce, or peach conserve?
Apart from the wonderful taste and its contribution to a meal, increasing food costs makes preserving a sensible reality.
As a kid, I remember hot August days when a boiling vat of water started a long day of making my mother’s autumn relish.
Of course, the kitchen was filled with the tantalizing aromas of simmering spices, vegetables and fruits but it did not make the kitchen any cooler.
However, you kept your mind on the prize – a wonderful taste to accompany dishes come fall and winter.
Of course, today air conditioning has simplified preserving even on the hottest day.
Remember too, that the easiest method of preserving, quick and simple, is freezing.
You can pick crops in season, for instance, strawberries, clean them then freeze them in freezer bags ready to preserve later at your leisure in a jam or pickle of your choice, even on a winter’s day.
Here to “get you into a pickle,” are two of my favourite recipes.
Antipasto
Jars of this savory sauce are wonderful to have on hand as an quick appetizer to serve with crackers or use as an emergency pasta toss.
It makes an ideal hostess gift too.
Best of all you can preserve it in a boiling water bath or for added speed, prepare it and freeze it in jars.
(Remember to leave a ½ inch headspace to allow for expansion during freezing!)
Note: Freezing means you do not have to use a boiling water bath to keep the food
safe.
4 carrots, peeled and diced
2 red peppers, diced
2 zucchini, diced
1 cauliflower, finely chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups (500 mL) ketchup
2/3 cup (150 mL) horseradish
1/2 cup (125 ml) vegetable oil
1/2 cup 125 mL) cider vinegar
1 jar, (12 oz/375 mL) pimento stuffed olives
1 cup (250 mL) black olives, drained and coarsely chopped
1 (6 oz/ 170mL) marinated artichokes
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup (125 mL) finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tsp (10 mL) basil
1/4 tsp (1 mL) hot pepper sauce or to taste
In a steamer-basket set over large pot of boiling ware, individually steam
carrots, peppers, zucchini and cauliflower until tender -crisp.
In large stainless- steel saucepan, combine onions, garlic, ketchup, oil, vinegar, olives, artichokes, bay leaf parsley, horseradish, basil and hot pepper sauce. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
Stir in steamed vegetables, simmer for 15-minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Discard bay leaf.
To preserve quickly by freezing, spoon into freezer bags or preserving jars leaving a required headspace of ½ inch (1 cm) which allows for expansion during the freezing process.
To preserve using a boiling water bath to make the food shelf-stable, pack into hot sterilized jars leaving a headspace of ½ inch (1 cm) and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Remove to a rack; allow to cool and check for a seal of the lid (lid should go down in centre once cool).
For any jars which may not have a seal; refrigerate
Getting ‘into a pickle’ during hot August days
them and use up within 2 weeks.
To serve the antipasto, a tin of tuna may be added to the mixture just before serving but this mixture should be kept well chilled and used up within a day of combining.
Makes about 10 cups (2.5 L).
This yummy pickle is wonderful with barbecued sausages, meatloaf and roast chicken or pork.
(I have been known to eat it by the spoonful at the counter, it is so good!)
It is best made fresh in August when peaches, pears and the first apples come in!
4 cups (1 L) peeled, sliced peaches (about 5)
2 cups (500 mL) peeled, coarsely chopped pears
2 cups (500 mL) peeled, coarsely chopped apples
1 cup (250 mL) golden raisins
1 large onion, chopped 1 lemon, washed, halved and thinly sliced 3 cups (750 mL) lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (125 mL) crystallized ginger, chopped 2 cups (500 mL) cider vinegar
1 tsp each, ground ginger, ground cloves & pickling salt
1/2 tsp (2 mL) each, cinnamon and cayenne pepper
In large stainless- steel saucepan, combine peaches, pears, apples, raisins, onion, lemon, sugar, ginger, cloves, pickling salt, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer stirring frequently for about 40 minutes or until thickened.
Spoon into hot, sterilized jars to within ½ inch of top; wipe edge clean; apply lids and process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Cool on rack and check lids for seal.
Date and label.
Makes about 8 cups (2 L).
Niagara Chutney
ALAN SHACKLETON
The sign on Queen Street East, north side just west of Lee Avenue, for the proposed six-storey mixed use building. The site currently is home to a number of empty storefronts and the Foodland grocery store on the northwest corner.
Feedback from community will be ‘taken into account’ on Queen and Lee proposal
‘Proposal’ from Page 1
Across the street from 2040 Queen St. E. are popular neighbourhood landmarks such as Kew Gardens park, The Beaches Branch Library, and Coles Book Store which was once home to a bank built in 1911.
Although many of the buildings in the area, and in the application, hold historical value to residents, they were never designated as heritage buildings which would have protected them from being demolished. Domagala, along with many other local residents who share a passion for the preservation of their neighbourhood’s history, are concerned about this development and its impact on the community.
Considering the site is partly owned by Crombie Limited Partnership and grocers Sobeys Capital Incorporated, the importance of protecting neighbourhood grocery stores is also expected to be one of the main focuses during community discussions.
Bradford told Beach Metro Community News that grocery stores are also a “valuable asset to the neighbourhood” and his constit-
uents will want to ensure that they are maintained “in the long term” considering the present Foodland store, located on the site, will be demolished.
“I also expect a lot of discussion about the addition of badly-needed housing options, and how this proposal aligns with the Urban Design Guidelines,” he said.
According to the Queen Street East Urban Design Guidelines (UDG), any proposal along Queen Street East between Coxwell Avenue and Nursewood Road is prohibited from exceeding the six-storey limit along with many other regulations that are specific to the Beach.
Bradford said that the guidelines will play a major role in determining the City of Toronto’s decision on Crombie REIT’s proposal.
“I’m looking forward to hearing this feedback from the community and I’m committed to working with the applicant and City Planning to ensure it is taken into account,” said Bradford.
For more information about the proposal, visit www.2040queeneast.ca
Fest
‘Leslieville’ from Page 1 Although early bird tickets are sold out, Vina said those attending can still save $5 by using promo code BEACHMETRO.
“These corporations see real value in what we are doing and they are putting real dollars forward to being part of it,” said Vina of the Leslieville Block Fest.
More than 2,500 people are expected to attend the event this year, according to Vina.
“We are looking to achieve a more community feel…this event provides a venue and an atmosphere where people can connect,” said Vina of his vision for this year’s festival.
One ticket for the event costs $40 and includes a commemorative sampling mug and two beer sample tokens.
Entry will be free to the festival for everyone under age 18 and under courtesy of The Weir Team.
Volunteers are also needed for the event and will receive a shirt and coffee for their efforts.
Charity partner for the Leslieville Block Fest is the Red Door Shelter in East Toronto.
For more information regarding this Saturday’s Leslieville Block Fest, please visit www.leslievilleblockfest.com
Reunion for Monarch Park students on Aug. 24
STUDENTS WHO attended Monarch Park Collegiate Institute in the 1970s are invited to a reunion this Saturday.
The school, which opened in 1964 was previously known as Monarch Park Secondary School and the reunion will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the school’s opening. The reunion for former students born in the 1950s or 1960s will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Balmy Beach Club, 360 Lake Front, from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. There will be live bands and a DJ, barbecue hamburgers and hot dogs, a silent auction and Monarch Park merchandise available at the event. Bands slated to perform are Sugar Rush and Big Night Out. Proceeds from the night support alumi activities. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by going online to www.monarchparkreunion. ca or by calling 416-427-3525.
Historic walk through St. John’s cemetery set for Saturday, Aug. 31
Gene dOMaGala Beach Memories
Iwill be leading an historic walk through St. John’s Norway Cemetery on Saturday, Aug. 31.
The walk begins at 1 p.m. and we will meet at the northwest corner of Kingston Road and Woodbine Avenue.
I have been doing this walk for some 40-plus years and I always I see and hear something new about the St. John’s cemetery.
When I walked through it recently I thought to myself: This is history and what history is all about.
You might say what do I mean? Well, this is what I mean. St. John’s cemetery personifies what an historical place is to a certain geographical and political area.
St. John’s Norway Cemetery and St. John the Baptist Norway Anglican Church was originally called St. John’s Berkely. Yes, it was called St. John’s Berkely.
The original land on which is the church and cemetery is situated be-
longed to a pioneer name J. Small who was a large landowner who worked for the colonial government a couple of hundred years ago. Mr. Small donated some three-and-a-half acres to the Anglican diocese for a church and cemetery around 1853. The name of his land and residence was called Berkely, hence the name St. John’s Berkely.
In later years in that area around Kingston and Woodbine was a small hamlet called Norway. People started calling the church and cemetery St. John’s Norway and that has continued until this day.
When I write that St. John’s is an historic place, that’s because it is. There are dozens and dozens of reasons I can point out and write about regarding the history of the cemetery.
There’s so much history in the original site of the church, which was a school house on Kingston Road that was brought to that site by settlers. There are hundreds of graves in the cemetery in memory of soldiers from many wars.
In total there are some 80,000 people buried there. Some are the pioneers who built up the area of the
Beach and East Toronto. Those buried in St. John’s include politicians, ministers and civil servants, but most of all they are the ordinary people who lived and worked in the area for the past 170 years.
History is when a family or an ordinary person walks through the gates of the cemetery and visits the gravesite of a relative or friend. They remember the fallen, the sick, the good times and the bad times. This is what history is all about.
There are many graves and monuments, some of them in relation to terrible tragedies, and that is history. On previous walks in St. John’s cemetery, I always remember some of the people on them telling me about their friends and relatives buried there.
On the walk we will see the graves and monuments, and we will note the St. John’s church and cemetery office buildings. But then I thought it’s not the graves and it’s not the buildings – it is the people and the memories they convey that are the true history and a tribute to those who are buried and resting in the St. John’s Norway Cemetery.
Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Night Light Walk at Kew Gardens
THE ROYAL LePage Shelter Foundation Night Light Walk Toronto 2024 is set to take place to begin at Kew Gardens in the Beach on Oct. 24. The three-kilometre walk is held in support of urgently needed resources for women and children experiencing domestic violence. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from the Oct. 24 walk will go to Toronto’s Red Door Shelter and Nellie’s.
Royal LePage Estate Realty, located in the Beach, are hosting the Kew Gardens walk. Broker of Record and Owner Chris Dunlop is grateful to TD Bank the presenting sponsor and their other sponsors which in-
clude Beach Metro Community News, Coutts and Crane Barristers and Solicitors, Energia Athletics and Diamond Corp.
Dunlop stated: “The incredible support of our sponsors helps us to ensure that 100 per cent of all funds raised in the community are given to our Shelter Partners.”
Dunlop, a longtime Beach resident, was presented with the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation’s Philanthropist of the Year Award in March of 2023 for his charitable and community work.
The Oct. 24 Night Light Walk Toronto 2024 begins at 7 p.m. at Kew Gardens (2075 Queen St. E.) and par-
ticipants are asked to start gathering at 6:15 p.m. to hear inspiring stories before heading out on the lanternlit walk. All participants in the walk will receive a Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Night Light Walk Knit Hat and LED bracelet.
The Red Door Shelter has been providing emergency shelter in East Toronto and ongoing support for women and their children affected by gender-based violence, families experiencing a housing crisis, and refugee claimants with nowhere else to turn for more than 40 years.
Nellie’s works to lessen homelessness for women and their children, whether
Thomas Craig and family spend time in both the Beach and England
‘A lake-side’ from Page 12 here in the Beach and part in England. How does that work for you? Is that tough?
TC: It’s tricky, it’s like living two separate lives and it’s been tricky on relationships, my kids and everybody, but we’ve got through it. I really like coming here to play beach volleyball. I played last night. If the jobs stopped tomorrow, I think I’d still come to the Beach for three months of the year and to play beach volleyball.
BF: What drew you to the Beach neighbourhood?
TC: When I was first here in 2007 when the show started, one of the girls at the office drove me all around Toronto showing me neighbourhoods. My kids were five and four. This just seemed the perfect neighbourhood to have your kids in, with a swimming pool at the end of the beach. I mean, well, I would have been stupid not to have picked the Beach, really.
When I got the job, I thought the character was called Bracken Reid, I thought his first name was Bracken and I thought that’s a great name Bracken Reid.
BF: Brackenreid is gruff and old-fashioned, but he’s softening the last few years.
TC: I think you have to evolve, don’t you? The first five seasons we were on a different channel. I think CBC softened it up for modern sensibilities. If you watch the first five seasons, it’s never been really edgy, but it was slightly edgy. There’s a running gag that if I put the black glove on, somebody’s getting beat up.
I’ve learned a lot about Toronto history. Murdoch couldn’t go higher because he was a Catholic. Toronto didn’t have a first Catholic police chief until 1989. That’s what I quite like about the series, he’s a genius, but he can’t be the boss because he’s a Catholic. Toronto was
a very Protestant-run town.
BF: You’re not really that tough guy, how do you get in character?
TC: I’ve not had a fight since I was 19. I don’t know, once you put the outfit on, the uniform and you’ve got the hair cut differently. I always think you should wear the right shoes because it makes you walk differently. Whenever I wear the outfit, you walk upright, you don’t slouch. So once you’ve got the outfit on then the words speak for themselves and I change the words anyway. I’ve grown up with a lot of people who’ve got that angst and anger that Brackenreid has. I’ve seen it, I’ve been around it in life.
BF: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is joining the cast, can you tell us about his role?
TC: He’s the new chief of Station House 4. I’ve been promoted so I’m a chief constable and he’s got my old job. I’m everybody’s boss.
BF: You played a railwayman in The Navigators
TC: It was all set in 1995 when the British Rail got privatized. All the guys who were working for British Rail lost their jobs and had to reapply. Safety practices were not the same once they privatized. It’s all about the lads getting shafted at work. The film got released a month after 9/11, bad timing. There were six of us in the cast. And we got split up, three of us went to Venice Film Festival and the other three came to Toronto Film Festival. The three boys who came here got stuck here for a week because of 9/11. I had never even thought of coming to Toronto. I didn’t even know what part of Canada it was in, really. I ended up working in Toronto all these years later, that’s quite funny.
Our meal arrived and talk turned to food.
the cause is family violence, mental health, or any other reason that results in dealing with the impact of trauma. Nellie’s works to move women out of shelter by finding them safe and affordable housing to help keep them safe from harm.
For information on how to participate in the Night Light Walk Toronto 2024, or on how to become a volunteer, go to https://secure3. convio.net/rlsf/site/TR?fr_ id=1240&pg=entry
WE’RE MORE THAN A GYM, WE’RE THE VILLAGE
TC: I don’t do coffee shops. I do pubs. The Firkin ‘cause they show football, the Premier League. I like Sauvignon Bistro.
TC: On Murdoch we never thought we’d get this far anyway. They’ve established that we went up a year every year. So now we’re in 1912. We’re not really going to touch on the Titanic. I’ve learned loads of Toronto history from doing this job. I fought the Great Toronto Fire in 1904. I’ve got a picture of Yannick and I fighting the fire.
BF: You should have an episode here at the Balmy Beach Club.
TC: I mentioned that idea for the year 1905, which is seven years ago on Murdoch. I pitched that the club where I play volleyball was opened in 1905, but this here is too modern.
We looked around. Children were screaming and having a good time by the lake.
TC: It’s good to see them out playing.
BF: Are your kids interested in showbiz?
TC: No, thank God! It’s a tough business. It’s great when you’re working, but there’s lots of downside, lot of unemployment. You don’t have any control over your life.
Fun fact: In Victorianera Toronto the actual boss at Police Station #4 was Inspector Thomas Brackenreid (1847-1919) and his daughter attended dances at the Balmy Beach Club
Kids squealed with laughter below us as we watched them run on the sand just the way children may have laughed and played way back in 1905 at the dawn of a new century.
Thank you, Thomas Craig for this interview with Beach Metro News.
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place. Left behind are five siblings: Gary (Carolyn), Linda, Brian, Diana and Cheryl. He is welcomed into heaven by his mom, Barbara (nee Johnson) 2014 and Alfred 2013. Allan graduated from Centennial Secondary School in Windsor. He worked many years in Windsor before moving to Toronto for work. He loved antiques, riding his bicycle, the beach, and Starbucks. Obituary
St. John Catholic School’s Project H2O raises funds, awareness for safe drinking water in Indigenous communities
OVER A couple weeks this June at St. John Catholic School, the Triple C (Children Creating Change) social justice club organized a fundraiser raising awareness for the water crisis occurring in Indigenous communities in Canada.
Students researched various organizations and decided on Water First as a group they would support. Water First is an NGO that works collaboratively with Indigenous communities offering them tools and education to maintain and provide clean water in their own communities.
St. John’s Project H20 was kicked off with an assembly for the whole school.
In this assembly, the Triple C students talked about why water is important, why water is needed, and explained all of the activities that were to come with Project H20. To end the assembly the students performed a skit about all the activities that were going to take place.
These activities were schoolwide bingo about water facts in Canada, selling freezies and throwing pies in three teachers faces!
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At the assembly, two members of the team got pied in the face! Everyone was excited to see that happen to three teachers! Students were able to donate money towards specific staff getting pied in the face. The top teacher brought in more $150.
The freezies were a great success as well! Each day the whole Triple C team went to classes collecting donations.
The students of St. John Triple C raised $1,266.60 in total as part of Project H20!
All proceeds were donated to Water First.
We were overwhelmed by the support from the community. The amount we raised can provide training to an intern student, purchase a water-level logger or provide a one-week workshop in a school that is impacted by the water crisis in Canada.
We hope that all the donations we received can help Indigenous communities in Canada have safe drinking water like we have in Toronto.
– Written by Alexandra W. and Leah D., Grade 7 students, and members of St. John Triple C.
Beacher Finn Harding drafted by Pittsburgh Penguins in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft
BEACHER FINN Harding has taken the next step in his hockey career as he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2024 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft earlier this summer.
Harding, 19, was drafted 223rd overall by the Penguins in the seventh round
I N U M HOMECRAFT
of the draft that took place in Las Vegas on June 28 and 29.
“It was a dream come true to be drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Harding recently told Beach Metro Community News
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity and excited to make the most out of it.”
Harding wrapped up his second season as a defenceman with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) earlier this year.
The Steelheads drafted Harding in the 2021 OHL draft and he began playing for them in the fall of 2022 as a 17-year-old. As of the coming 2024/2025 OHL season the team has relocated to Brampton where they will continue to be know as the Steelheads.
A right-shooting defenceman, Harding is six-feet, oneinch tall and weighs in at 201 pounds.
In early July, Harding attended the Penguins’ development camp for young players that was held in Cranberry, Pennsylvania. “I had a blast at development camp and learned a lot,” said Harding. “I can’t wait to go back in September.”
NHL training camp for the 2024/2025 season officially begins in early September.
While at the Penguins’ development camp this month, Harding had the chance to meet a number of the team’s legendary players.
“I had the honour of meeting Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, which was awesome,” he said.
It is not known if Harding will play next season
in Pittsburgh or Brampton (or the Penguins’ American Hockey League team the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins). For this coming season, he will return to the Steelheads. He expressed his appreciation for the past two seasons of OHL hockey. “I’d like to thank the Steelheads organization for believing in me and helping achieve this milestone,” he said. “I’d also like to thank everyone else who helped me along the way.”
Harding began his hockey journey with skating lessons at the outdoor rink in Greenwood Park, and then with the late Bob Acton at Ted Reeve Arena. He played many sports growing up including soccer, lacrosse, tennis, softball, golf, sailing, and ball hockey. Harding attended Adam Beck Junior Public
School, Glen Ames Senior Public School, and Malvern Collegiate Institute. While at Malvern he won the Hockey Award and Athlete of the Year honours.
His parents Jason and Connie are extremely proud of his achievements, and also wanted to thank everyone who helped with their son’s hockey career to this point. “We’re very appreciative of all the support he’s had over the years, from coaches to trainers to teachers and parents, and of course the billet families who open their homes to players,” said Jason. “It really takes a village.”
Connie said: “We’re so happy for Finn. He’s always had a love for the game and he’s worked so hard, so it’s wonderful to see him have this incredible experience.”
PHOTO: SUBMITTED
Finn Harding, who attended Malvern Collegiate, was drafted by the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this summer.
CHRIS TANEV, who grew up in East Toronto and attended East York Collegiate Institute, signed a contract
with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this summer. Tanev, 34, began his NHL
career with the Vancouver Canucks in the 2010-2011 season. The Leafs signed the defenceman to a six-year deal.
Maple Leafs’ signing Tanev
PHOTO: SUBMITTED
Members of St. John’s Triple C club with the cheque for $1,266.60 that they raised for Water First.
Local beach volleyball player to compete in Under-19 World Championships in China
By Nafisat Alao
AT JUST 16 years old, local resident Sophie Hancock is set to make waves on the international stage as she competes in the Under-19 World Beach Volleyball Championships in Shangluo, China at the end of this month with her partner Ruby Cochrane.
Hancock has been passionate about beach volleyball since she was around 11 or 12 years old.
According to her, the sport has become a significant part of her life, shaping her into the dedicated athlete she is today.
She started her volleyball career with the Defensa Volleyball Club in Oakville. However, when the pandemic made indoor sports challenging, she was introduced to the outdoor game of beach volleyball, and she found a new passion for it.
“In November of 2020, my family and I went down to Florida so I could train at RPS Academies and learn the basics there. When I came back to Canada I started finding success with all different partners and ended up winning four national championships,” said Hancock.
“I did continue to play indoor volleyball when I came back to Canada….but after that, I kind of just decided to focus more on beach volleyball,” she added.
This past semester, Hancock attended Malvern Collegiate Institute, having previously completed her studies online through Blyth Academy to allow for greater flexibility and training opportunities.
Alongside her upcoming beach volleyball championships in China, Hancock has also committed to attending the University of California, Berkeley on a volleyball scholarship. Though she won’t begin her studies for another two years, she is already very excited about joining the prestigious university.
“I’m so excited. To have that opportunity has been my dream since I was 12 years old. I have visited the campus twice already and it was a dream opportunity for me. I love the campus and the facilities and I am so pumped,” she said.
In preparation for the World Championships, she described what her training process is like, emphasizing her commitment to playing at the highest level possible while still in the city.
“Right now I have been working on playing at the highest level competition I can play here in Toronto so I have been playing more adult and women’s open tournaments just because that is the highest level that is here and I am going to be playing against professional players who are all way older than me,” said Hancock.
She acknowledged that playing against tough competition can be disheartening at times but noted that it has been an important part of preparing her to compete at a higher level.
As for her personal goals, Hancock emphasized that she is primarily focused on playing her best beach volleyball and fully embracing the experience.
“For me, I have just set the goal to play the best that I can play, and I know how that sounds but I think I am not as much focused on winning rather than going and taking as much as I can out of the experience,” said Hancock.
“Going into it with the mindset of priori-
tizing winning is so difficult because we also don’t know the teams until we get there so we just want to go into it with the mindset of doing the best we can to compete against other teams,” she added.
Of all her influences in the sport of beach volleyball, Hancock mentioned that Heather Bansley and Melissa Humana-Parades have been particularly profound sources of inspiration for her.
Humana-Parades recently won the silver medal in beach volleyball at the Paris Olympics earlier this month with her partner Brandie Wilkerson.
“It’s great to see other players who are around my height. Typically in beach volleyball everyone is taller and I am only five-foot nine inches so it’s cool to see other players that are my height and that I could see myself in,” she said.
Hancock said that she believes she will be able to adapt very well to the different atmosphere and conditions she will face in China, including the challenges of playing in a new environment.
She said all of her previous travelling and training experience has led her to this moment and competing in the world championships.
Her advice to anyone pursuing a passion for sports is to “keep working hard because everyone comes from different circumstances. As long as you are staying focused on your goals you can always achieve it,” she said.
Beyond the upcoming world championship tournament, her long-term goals in beach volleyball include excelling in college, enhancing her skills, and eventually aspiring to join Team Canada.
“I don’t really know what that looks like right now but I would love to keep trying for all the world championships and in two years for the next U19 and possibly the Canada Games,” she said.
Hancock and her partner Cochrane are both excited for the opportunity to be taking part in the FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) Under-19 World Beach Volleyball Championships that take place from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1 in China.
For more information on the Under-19 World Beach Volleyball Championships, please go to https://en.volleyballworld.com/ beachvolleyball/competitions/u19-worldchampionships/competition/host-city
PHOTOS: SUBMITTED
Beacher Sophie Hancock will be taking part in the Under-19 World Beach Volleyball Championships in China this month.
I
Shakespeare in the Ruff brings performances of The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers to Withrow Park
SHAKESPEARE IN the Ruff will be performing in Withrow Park through this week and continuing until the first day of September.
This year’s production is The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers that is based on William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest.
Performances take place in the evening at Withrow Park which is located at 725 Logan Ave. just south of Danforth Avenue.
The play opened on Aug. 18, and further performances are scheduled for Aug. 20, Aug. 21, Aug. 22, Aug. 24, Aug. 25, Aug. 27, Aug. 28, Aug. 29, Aug. 30, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. All performances of the play begin at 7:30 p.m.
On Aug. 23 and Aug. 24, the performances will be preceded by a Special Young Ruffian Apprenticeship Program presentation at 7 p.m.
The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers is written by Mark Ayache and directed by Kwaku Okyere. The dramaturgy of the production is by Nathaniel Hanula-
James.
Shakespeare in the Ruff is a not-forprofit theatre company in East Toronto.
“Using Shakespeare as a foundation, we re-interpret, re-write, and re-new these stories for a contemporary audience,” said Shakespeare in the Ruff’s website.
“We push the boundaries of what is possible in outdoor theatre.”
The synopsis for The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers reads:
“In the original, the magician Prospero summons a storm and plots vengeance against the conspirators who abandoned him and his daughter on a remote island. Our adaptation, A Witch in Algiers, decentres Prospero and gives new voice to two neglected characters from the original play: Caliban, Prospero’s servant on the island; and Sycorax, Caliban’s mother, who lived on the island prior to Prospero’s arrival and is never seen, only mentioned, in The Tempest. Ayache weaves a backstory for Sycorax and Caliban that
reaches beyond Shakespeare’s island, across the Mediterranean Sea, to the markets and souks of Algiers in North Africa. Blending the Bard’s verse with Ayache’s powerful poetic voice, A Witch in Algiers is a story of loss and defiance that resonates with our current political moment.”
The cast features Ron Kennell as Prospero; Muhaddisah as Sycorax; Naomi Ngebulana as Ariel; Sepehr Reybod as Caliban; Quinlan Shearer as Ferdinand (and others); and Alexia Vassos as Miranda (and others).
Prices for The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers in Withrow Park are on a paywhat-you-can-afford basis; however, guests can reserve a seat in advance at the price point that best suits their needs. For more information on the play, and how to reserve tickets for specific shows, please go to https://shakespeareintheruff.com/the-tempest-awia
Guests are advised to bring personal lawn chairs, blankets, and/or a picnic as regular seating will be on the grass.
BuskerFest and Bark in the Park slated for Labour Day weekend
THE TORONTO International BuskerFest for Epilepsy, and the annual Bark in the Park festival, will be taking place at Woodbine Park over the Labour Day long weekend.
In its 23rd year, BuskerFest Toronto raises funds for Epilepsy Toronto.
This year’s Buskerfest and Bark in the Park celebrations go from Friday, Aug. 30, through to Monday, Sept. 2.
Over the entire Labour Day weekend, numerous buskers from around the world will perform and share their talents with those attending Woodbine Park.
Other performing acts will include circus artists, daredevils, “feats of the impossible”, and more.
The festival will also feature an array of food trucks, a beer garden, a family fun zone, nighttime programs and much more.
As part of Buskerfest, Bark in the Park will also be taking place over the Labour Day weekend in a dedicated area of the Woodbine Park. The annual festival is a celebration for dog owners and their furry companions. Bark in the Park will offer a range of activities, treats, and pet-centric vendors.
BuskerFest and Bark in the Park will take place Friday, Aug. 30 from noon to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 31, and Sunday, Sept. 1, from noon to 11 p.m.; and Monday, Sept. 2, from noon to 7 p.m. Woodbine Park is located at 1695 Queen Street East.
Admission to BuskerFest is by donation in support of Epilepsy Toronto. Single-pass tickets for the event cost $10. A Family Pass admission that is good for two adults and up to four children is $20. For more information, and how to buy tickets, please go to https://torontobuskerfest.com
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Beaches Chess Club to host outdoor tournament on Aug. 25
WHEN THE Beaches Chess Club (BCC) began its journey eight months ago, its founder, Ivan Rudakov, had ambitions of nurturing an outdoor space by the waters of Lake Ontario for chess enthusiasts to gather. Since its inception, Beaches Chess Club has now grown to about 100 players with the
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Katerina Rudakova, one of the organizers, told Beach Metro Community News that it
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“feels good” to achieve the club’s goal of hosting outdoor events. However, there are “lots of steps” left to take in the club’s journey.
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tournament (BCC Chess at the Beach) due to the flexible nature of the space. “It’s covered, so on sunny days it gives us shade and (protects players) from rain,” said Rudakova.
For information about how to volunteer, donate, or to RSVP for the Aug. 25 event, contact beacheschessclub@gmail.com
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