Beach Metro Community News January 10, 2023

New Year’s Levee in Beaches-East York welcomes 2023

Public meeting set on building plan for Birch Cliff

By Amarachi Amadike, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

SCARBOROUGH COMMUNITY

Council is hosting a public meeting for a development application at 1625, 1633, 1641 Kingston Rd. and 52 Birchcliff Ave. later this month.

The meeting will take place at 9:30 am on Friday, Jan. 27, at the Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr.

The application proposes to demolish 33 rental dwelling units—32 units at 1625, 1633 and 1641 Kingston Rd. in the Lenmore Court buildings, and one unit at 52 Birchcliff Ave.

They will be replaced with two new buildings which will have 312 new dwelling units, including replacement rental units for all 33 demolished rental units.

A Rental Housing Demolition and Conversion application has been submitted to permit the process. Under the City of Toronto Act, demolition of rental properties with six or more dwelling units is prohibited without obtaining a permit.

Hospital’s new Thomson centre officially opens Jan. 23

MICHAEL GARRON Hospital (MGH) in East York will officially open the new Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre on Monday, Jan. 23.

This will mark a historic milestone for MGH’s $560 million campus transformation which, according to a press release, is “the largest redevelopment project

since its inception”.

The centre is located on the northeast corner of Coxwell and Sammon avenues. It includes 215 inpatient beds and two levels of outpatient clinics. Of the patient beds, 80 per cent of them are in single rooms.

The Thomson centre also boasts new retail spaces as well as two

outdoor terraces that staff, patients and visitors can utilize.

The centre will also include numerous state-of-the-art technological features such as safety bracelets, medical equipment tracking, automatic medication dispensing systems, digital display screens, and enhanced infection prevention and control procedures.

Also, the centre will have new underground parking facilities, accessible from Sammon Avenue, for 400 vehicles and 129 bikes.

To learn more about the Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre, please go to www.tehn.ca/ about-us/newsroom/countdowntothomsoncentre-check-out-mghsnew-technology-and-integrations

According to City of Toronto officials, the Ontario Land Tribunal ruled for an approved settlement for this development application at the end of October of 2022 after all parties to the appeal reached a settlement agreement with the applicant, Altree Developments.

This ruling is subject to condi-

PHOTOS: ALAN SHACKLETON

Beaches-East York MPP Mary-Margaret McMahon, left, Beaches-East York MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, centre, and Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford, holding his daughter Briar, hosted a New Year’s Levee on Sunday, Jan. 8, at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 11 on Dawes Road. A large crowd came out to meet and greet their local politicians and to welcome 2023. Photos below (from left): McMahon talks with attendees; Bradford meets with Summer Nudel and Harvey Minuk; and Erskine-Smith chats with residents at the Levee.

Hair of the Dog Run hits Balmy Beach on New Year’s Day

The Hair of the Dog Run made its return to the Beach on New Year’s Day. Photo above, participants in the walk portion of the event start off at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 1. Photos at right and below, runners take off from the start line for the run portion. The Hair of the Dog has been taking place since 1980, but runs had to be cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The run raises funds for the Balmy Beach Canoe Club.

instructor has now relocated to The Beaches Conservatory Arts Centre in Henley Gardens.

Ivan Zilman is offering lessons in all guitar styles, saxophone, singing, electric bass, music theory and jazz improvisation

In home lessons can also be arranged.

For more information contact Ivan at: 416 693 9523 or email at izilman987@gmail.com

PHOTOS: ALAN SHACKLETON

local French

and public school board trustees is on Jan. 23

By Amarachi Amadike, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

FOR French language school trustee positions in central and east Toronto ridings for both the Catholic and public boards are set for Monday, Jan. 23.

The election of trustees for both the Conseil Scolaire Viamonde’s Ward 3 - Centre and for the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir Ward 4 – Toronto Est were supposed to have taken place during the Oct. 24, 2022 municipal election.

However, both those races had to be declared void by the City of Toronto due to ineligible candidates running for the positions.

The Conseil Scolaire Viamonde is Ontario’s public French school board. The Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir is the province’s Catholic French school board.

During the municipal election campaign last October, many Conseil Scolaire Viamonde Ward 3 – Centre parents voiced disappointment at the lack of candidates running to represent their interests. They were further disappointed when one of the two candidates running was declared ineligible as they did not meet the criteria for French public school board candidates. That left only one candidate and the city declared the election void on Oct. 19.

Some Viamonde parents, such as AnnaKaryna Ruszkowski (who is now one of seven candidates seeking the trustee position)

took it upon themselves to find out more information about the candidates prior to the October election date. She, and others, wrote letters to the City of Toronto’s Clerk’s Office requesting an investigation into the candidates.

This collective effort led to the discovery that Joseph Franca, a former candidate, did not meet the requirements to be appointed as trustee.

“I chose to run after I saw what took place so that something like that never happens again,” said Ruszkowski. “To avoid having people that are not francophone rights holders as candidates for a role that does require you to know the language.”

Although the previous round of elections saw only two residents register as candidates, it seems like the controversy sparked more interest because, to her surprise, she will be running against six others.

“It’s surprising but at the same time it is comforting to see that more people are becoming more aware of the needs of the francophone community and more people are willing to step up,” said Ruszkowski.

Other candidates running for the trustee position for Conseil Scolaire Viamonde Ward 3 – Centre in the Jan. 23 byelection are: Richard Kempler; Pierre Lermusieaux; Adrian Mansard; Alexandre Nanoff; Serge Paul, and Mary Wood.

None of the candidates running in the Jan.

Continued on Page 9

East York’s ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency helps build pride and connection to roots

By Ahmed Dirie

FOLLOWING DECADES of having the challenges faced and the needs expressed by Indigenous youth ignored, Cynthia Bell founded the ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency to combat the hierarchical nature of Indigenous communities as well as to give future generations a voice.

Since breaking off from a larger Indigenous organization and having its charity application approved in September of 2018, the ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency has been serving Indigenous youth starting at age 12 through to 29 from their East York location at 1005 Woodbine Ave. led by the 39, mostly youth, staff members.

ENAGB is a combined acronym for “Eshkiniigjik Naandwechigegamig,” which means a place for healing our youth, and “Aabiish Gaa Binjibaaying?” which means where did we come from?

“We’re old but new,” said Bell, who is also executive director.

The importance of the organization as a source of assistance and education for the Indigenous community is magnified by the lack of similar resources around their location.

“The reason we chose this location in the east is because there’s no youth program,” said Bell. “We’re technically the first ever Indigenous youth agency led by youth for youth. There are organizations in the city that have youth programming within them, but not specifically for youth. We provide services and programming through 12 and 29. And then we have our early-ons for zero to six.”

ENAGB hopes to shore up the gap that currently exists for those aged 7 to 11 years old.

Twenty-five years ago, at a meeting with the elders on her reservation to discuss a recent suicide, Bell tried to offer a number of suggestions to the problems faced by the younger members of the community. “Being a youth, it’s really intimidating to speak out because it’s always adults and elders who lead communities.”

In response to having the issues brought to elders by Bell and her peers due to their reactive as opposed to proactive methods, she strived to launch a foundation that put Indigenous youth at the forefront and was represented by its own youth council. In addition to suggesting a youth council, Bell proposed more flexible program hours, to cater to a wider range of people, as well as inviting the elders to outdoor excursions, such as volleyball or swimming, to engender a genuine connection and relationship with the youth. She didn’t let the dismissive responses deter her. In fact, she said those responses may have made her even more determined to launch her own organization.

The services provided at ENAGB range from training and employment to housing support to programs designed to provide cultural and historical education to help Indigenous youth connect to their roots.

The key to ENAGB is that

the programs and services offered are created and curated for young people by young people through the youth council.

“People think that when I speak on behalf of the youth that I’m speaking with my own voice,” said Bell. “But every month for the past 10 years, I would meet with youth through youth council meetings, and I would sit with youth and hear what they say, what their needs are and wants are.”

The ages served are spread fairly equally although case management is the most heavily utilized service offered at ENAGB, said Bell.

Despite the key role Bell plays at ENAGB, she prefers to remain behind-the-scenes and place the youth, both in the council and those they serve, in the foreground. That humility, which is a key concept at ENAGB, is highlighted by Bell’s stated goal for the charitable organization which is to put itself out of business.

“At some point, our youth will be able to walk with pride, have their own culture and they’ve claimed it already,” said Bell. “They won’t need to heal anymore, because they know healthy choices, healthy lifestyle, healthy everything. That, eventually, is one of our biggest goals.”

She acknowledged how large of a task her goal entails due to intergenerational trauma exacerbated by sexual and drug abuse, insulated and isolated communi-

ties and cultural loss and assimilation all stemming from being forced to live on reservations.

“That’s probably like 150 years from now,” said Bell.

“The ultimate goal is to be able to get to know who they are, where they come from, and then to be able to lead their community, and contribute to society.”

One of the key ways to connect to one’s culture is to learn the language. Bell also teaches Odawa Ojibwe language for the Toronto District School Board both out of love and due to lack of qualified instructors.

“I teach two classes for high school students. It’s really sad because it’s close to becoming extinct. My community has a high number of fluent speakers, but when you think of the ones that are coming…I could barely have a handful of people who are under 40 who speak my language, which is the Odawa Ojibwe.”

The immediate goal for Bell is to ensure she passes down her knowledge to the next generation.

“I always have to consider myself to be dispensable,” said Bell. “And that’s really important because I don’t want to pass away with all my knowledge...That’s what we call wisdom and it is one of our seven grandfather teachings. True wisdom is being, and knowing, that you’re dispensable and sharing it with the next generation.”

For more information, go to https://enagb-iya.ca

PHOTO: SUBMITTED

The ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency puts the emphasis on programs for youth created by youth. ENAGB is located on Woodbine Avenue in East York.

@beachmetronews

Committee of Adjustment hearing on changes to Price Brothers duplex building slated for Jan. 18

By Amarachi Amadike, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A TORONTO and East York

Committee of Adjustment hearing date has officially been set for this month to consider the renovation proposal of the building at 2273-2275 Queen St. E. in the Beach.

The virtual hearing will take place on Jan. 18 at 9:30 a.m.

This hearing is part of an ongoing difference of opinion regarding modifications to the building between the owners of its two units.

Ed Wilson has lived in the east unit of the building for more than 40 years, and he’s concerned the proposal will alter the duplex building’s front façade and impact his access to sunlight in the back.

Rabbi Sholom Lezell is proposing the changes to the building’s west side to expand his synagogue and Jewish school at the location.

The last time the dispute was before the Committee of Adjustment was in 2021 when the hearing was deferred after Lezell asked for more time to address the proposed changes to the building.

“I’m told some form of this proposal is likely to be passed by the committee,” said Wilson in an email to Beach Metro Community News recently.

“However, the committee can attach conditions to their approvals.”

According to Wilson, the new proposal, which has one less floor, is a scaled back

version of the initial plan.

One major objection he had with the original design was the change to the front facade. The new proposal, however, does a better job at preserving the original Price Brothers appearance that is very familiar in the Beach area.

Although much effort has been put into the redesigning of plans for the front of the building, Wilson still has some issues with the additions made on Lezell’s side of the building.

The east side of the building (owned by Wilson) will have the original veranda and gable design that is well known to Queen Street East, while the west side (Lezell’s property) will feature a modern, glass finish where a balcony currently lies.

From the street, members of the community will be able to look directly into the new lobby of a Jewish Community Centre–Chabad Beaches.

“The glazing in of the veranda together with the forward positioning of the upper addition will destroy the symmetry and look of the building and make it unrecognizable as an example of the Price Brothers duplex,” said Wilson.

Wilson’s hope is that the Committee of Adjustment adheres to the Kew Beach Precinct Urban Design Guidelines which states that the sub area, located between Woodbine Avenue and Glen Manor Drive, is the “commercial and retail heart of the Beach”.

It suggests that “rows

of original Price Brothers buildings at the east end of this precinct are important for their cultural value and should be preserved.”

Residents who want to participate in the hearing can register in advance at www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/committee-of-adjustment/process-participation

The deadline to register to take part or to send a written submission regarding the proposal to the CoA is Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 4:30 p.m.

Written submissions (in pdf format), including your name and address, to the Committee of Adjustment must be emailed to coa.tey@ toronto.ca no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

Local Journalism Initiative

A proposal to alter the west half of this duplex at 2273-75 Queen St. E. will go before the Toronto and East York Committee of Adjustment on Jan. 18.

Amarachi Amadike is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for Beach Metro Community News. His reporting is funded by the Government of Canada through its Local Journalism Initiative.

Concerns about Strong Mayor System are not going away

AlAn ShAckleton Beach Metro News Editor

Iam sorry I have to start off the New Year complaining about the same thing I did to close out 2022. But if Mayor John Tory and some members of Toronto Council believe the anger and disgust over the Strong Mayor System is going to go away, they need to think again.

So we’re all clear on where this stands, Toronto Council voted to ask the province to withdraw Bill 39 (Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022) at its meeting that started on Dec. 14 and continued over the next three days. That’s a nice symbolic gesture, but it doesn’t actually do anything as far I can tell. Do we really think Premier Doug Ford is going to lis-

ten to Toronto Council? Come on, it’s obvious he hates this city and most of its council members.

What we should have had at last month’s council meeting was a clear statement from Mayor Tory that he would not be using the powers in Bill 39 which give him the right to push through items of “provincial priority” such as affordable housing and transit with only a one-third vote of council.

We did not get anything even close to that from the Dec. 15 council meeting.

What we did get was a number of votes on different motions regarding the Strong Mayor System.

I’m going to highlight what I think were the key motions in the debate. And stick with me here because the result of the vote on one of those motions was shocking. Please know I am looking at this through the lens of what I believe democracy is.

I think it is extremely important

for Beach Metro Community News readers to know where their local councillors -- Beaches-East York’s Brad Bradford, Scarborough Southwest’s Gary Crawford and Toronto-Danforth’s Paula Fletcher -- and Mayor Tory, stand on this.

The first vote taken on Dec. 15 was on a motion to request the “Mayor of Toronto, and all future Mayors, not exercise power that allows for motions to be passed with less that 50 per cent+1 majority of Council members present.”

That motion passed 14-11, with one councillor absent for the vote. (There are a total of 26 votes at Toronto Council made up of the 25 ward councillors and the mayor.)

Fletcher was among the 14 councillors supporting that motion. Bradford, Crawford and Tory were among the 11 to vote against it.

So it appears the motion passed, but is it enforceable?

The mayor did not vote for it and he’s the one being given the

Strong Mayor powers. I guess we’ll see what happens when we get to a point where Tory decides to use his “one-third majority”.

For the record, the vote to ask the province to repeal Bill 39 passed by a vote of 17 to 8 with one councillor absent.

Voting in support of that motion were Bradford and Fletcher. Voting against it were Crawford and Tory.

However, it was the result of the motion in which council members were asked if they actually believe in the “principle of democracy” that I found most shocking.

We should be glad to know the majority of them do. But we should be outraged it was not all of them.

The motion read: “City Council reaffirm its commitment to the principle of democracy on which our Procedures By-law is based that ‘the majority of members have the right to decide and the minority of members have the right to be

heard,’ according to Section 2.2 of the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures.”

It passed by a vote of 20-5 with one councillor absent.

Voting in support of it were Bradford and Fletcher.

Voting against it were Crawford and Tory. For the record, the other three councillors voting against were Scarborough-Rouge Park’s Jennifer McKelvie, Etobicoke North’s Vincent Crisanti, and York South-Weston’s Frances Nunziata. Wait? You’re thinking you’ve read this wrong about that motion. Did the mayor of our city vote that he is against the “principle” of democracy? Yes. Yes he did.

And with that, I believe Mayor Tory has lost the moral authority to lead Toronto. I realize Tory won’t be running again in 2026, but he has made a mess of his political legacy and compromised the futures of those viewed as his allies.

Is there any other way to see it?

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Letters to the Editor

Elected representatives sidelined by Strong Mayor System

Re: ‘Councillors have differing views on Strong Mayor plan,’ News, Beach Metro Community News, Nov. 29.

I was disheartened to read that BeachesEast York Councillor Brad Bradford was “open” to the idea of a one-third council vote to push through legislation that the mayor thinks will “advance“ provincial priorities.

Clearly he has a sincere desire to speed up action on the housing file, but if that requires weakening our democratic voice, then the price is too high.

I’m sure that the previous five mayors of Toronto, who signed a public letter asking John Tory to rescind his request for this additional power, also experienced the same

frustrations and challenges as they worked on their civic agendas as does the present mayor. However, what these mayors do understand is that democracy is based on majority rule when consensus cannot be reached through collaboration and cooperation. Why bother with a vote at all as any mayor can surely count on one third support from council?

How can we tell anyone, especially youth who are voting for the first time, that their vote is important when their elected representative can be sidelined by the mayor.

This is not about housing or transportation or libraries or parks; it’s about power and the relationship between the city and the

province.

In urban centres like Toronto, we already have had our civic representation cut in half by Premier Doug Ford’s government during the municipal election campaign of 2018. Now in Beaches-East York, our councillor represents 109,000 residents with very diverse needs. If you lived in St. Catharines, where I grew up, there are 12 councillors for 137,000 residents. You can do the math.

Councillor Bradford states that three million Torontonians have the opportunity to vote for the mayor; however, two thirds have just lost their voice in council.

Councillor Bradford also says that Mayor Tory should have the power to act on the

agenda that he was elected on. However, at no time in the recent election did he disclose that part of his agenda that included the power to pass legislation without a majority rule. This is unprecedented even where strong mayor powers exist.

I share many civic values with Councillor Bradford, affordable housing, environmental protection and safe streets but believe that these powers can work both ways. Let’s not forget that just a short while ago, we gathered on Remembrance Day to honour those who fought so that we could live in freedom under a democratic system.

Ruth Allen

Beach Metro Community News, published by Ward 9 Community News Inc., is a non-profit, non-partisan community newspaper founded in 1972 and published 23 times a year. It is distributed free by volunteers in East Toronto and Southwest Scarborough and paid for by our advertisers.

Letters to the Editor

Seeing scarlet over fire station’s door

Here is something that’s been bothering me for a while - the colour of the fire station door on Queen Street East in the Beach!

I know there was some kerfuffle and someone drove off with a fire engine, damaging the door. But since then, the door was painted scarlet and not fireengine red!

To me, as an art director and graphic designer, the scarlet looks to be 90 per cent magenta and about 40 per cent yellow. I know you’ll agree that fire engine red is 100 per cent yellow, 100 per cent magenta!

Hopefully they can restore the real fire-engine red!

Lisa de Nikolits

Restoring relationship with Indigenous people of Turtle Island will be the path to prosperity

I would like to acknowledge the Indigenous people of Turtle Island who stewarded the “lands and resources” around the Great Lakes for generations.

The academic world and mainstream society are sometimes unable to fully grasp reconciliation issues or the historical nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous people.

Penner Report (1983)

The committee, chaired by Liberal MP Keith Penner, stated that Native communities would prefer self-government rather than representation in Canadian legislative bodies. The committee thus recommended that the Indian Act and the Department of Indian Affairs be phased out over an extended time period and replaced by local governments established by Native peoples themselves.

Such recommendations, however, required the co-operation of the provincial legislatures, many of which were unwilling to opt for such a radical change. In 1984, the Penner Report fell to the wayside with the election of a Conservative government that was more concerned with finding a solution to the constitutional quagmire than addressing Aboriginal rights. Those Aboriginal and treaty rights are anchored

in the Canadian Constitution Act. (1982)

The ignorance of our shared history is the most troubling issue. Treaties are not real estate transactions. A colonial society asserted jurisdiction over ancestral lands and implemented Institutional Assimilation policies to control the fate of Indigenous peoples.

The historical nation-to-nation treaties were negotiated between the First Nations (Indigenous people) and the Crown in a spirit of trust and respect, not in a spirit of assimilation. The Imperial government of Great Britain began the establishment of nation-to-nation treaties with First Nations prior to Confederation.

The Parliament of Canada passed the first Indian Act in 1876 to undermine the concept of Indigenous Nationhood.

To become a Canadian citizen, prior to the 1960 amendment to the colonial Indian Act, status Indians or First Nations on reserves had to enfranchise or relinquish their Indian status; they would also be removed from the band membership list once they became doctors and lawyers, etc... Indian status can only be conferred by the government of Canada.

The Canadian federal government unilaterally imposed the reserve system on First Nations lands to gain control of jurisdiction and extinguish Ab-

original Title. A reserve is a land base that has been specifically set aside for Indigenous communities and it’s not a municipality. Indian agents were in control of the reserve system.

Indigenous Nationhood is the inherent right to self-determination. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 is often referred to as the (Magna Carta) of Indigenous Rights, the nation-to-nation relationship, fiduciary responsibility or treaty obligations and Aboriginal Title to the land. It is a law that was supposed to protect the wealth of Indigenous families for future generations.

Once Native people learned to read and write English, we started winning court case, after court case, after court case.

We live in a world dominated by the principle of private property or the colonial concept of ownership of land. It’s bizarre and absurd to own land. The land doesn’t belong to us; we belong to the land.

Indigenous lands are divided by colonial borders. The Indian Act continues to make Indigenous people wards of the state which affects many aspects of peoples’ lives. Restoring the treaty relationship is the path to prosperity.

Michael Cheena Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Advocate

‘Merry Christmas’ is an expression of joy and love

Re: ‘It’s inclusive to say “Merry Christmas”,’ Letters, Beach Metro Community News, Dec. 13.

Thank you June Rogers for suggesting that it is inclusive to say “Merry Christmas”.

There is no harm in saying “Merry Christmas” as there is no intent to offend by the person offering the greet-

ing and more importantly there is no offence taken by the receiving party.

The greeting is a generic expression of joy, forgiveness and love at this time of the year - irrespective of whether one religiously goes to Church or not. (A problem occurs when the Trump movement uses the expression in a fascist, racist manner, where there is a deliber-

ate intent to inflame and create a cultural divide.)

I am a Hindu and love all the eating, drinking and family and friends that Christmas has to offer. I wish that all readers have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Abhay Sharma

New Year, New Home

Thinking about making a move in 2023, we’re here for you. We help our clients achieve their goals by building, guiding, and growing together. Connect with us and make 2023 the best year yet.

PHOTO: LUANNE PUCCI

The shade of red that the door of Fire Station 227 on Queen Street East has been painted has a local reader seeing scarlet.

JAN. 21: Acoustic Harvest presents Teilhard Frost and Hannah Shira Naiman at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St., 8 p.m. Tickets $30 advance, $35 cash at door. Tickets and info: www.acousticharvest.ca. More info: www. tfrostmusic.com, www.hannahshiranaiman.com/about. Masking is strongly recommended by our artists and vulnerable/immunocompromised audience members.

JAN. 22: Kingston Road Village Concert Series presents “Winter Bach” at Kingston Road United Church, 975 Kingston Rd., 2 p.m. Toronto Symphony musicians perform with their U of T music students. Featuring principal cellist Joe Johnson performing C. P. E. Bach concerto in A minor, and violin soloist Mark Fewer in J. S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite no. 3. Tickets: $35 advance, $40 at door, available at www.BachSideBySide1.eventbrite.com

JAN. 27: Public Meeting re development application at 1625, 1633, 1641 Kingston Rd. and 52 Birchcliff Ave. at Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr., 9:30 a.m. Hosted by Scarborough Community Council. Info: scc@toronto.ca or 416-396-7287. See story on page 1.

FEB 4: Jazz & Reflection at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., 4:30pm. Join jazz vocalist Faith Amour and guitarist Eric St. Laurent in our warm and inviting Great Hall. Donations are welcome and proceeds support the Beach United food programs. More info: beachunitedchurch.com

FRIDAYS: GRANTFUL Food and Fellowship Food Bank and Soup Kitchen, 2029 Gerrard Street E., is open from 3:30-6:00 pm. Registration is required. Time slots are being distributed. Please arrive at food bank the time you were given. Info: 416-690-5169

GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS. If you or a family member are struggling with gambling, Gamblers Anonymous is there to HELP. Call: 1(855) 222-5542 or visit www.gatoronto.ca

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 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

BEACH INTERFAITH OUTREACH LUNCHES, 11 a.m. •Mondays at Corpus Christi Church (16 Lockwood Rd.). No lunch Feb. 20 •Tuesdays – alternating locations: St. Nicholas Anglican Church (1512 Kingston Rd.), starting Jan. 3, and St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, (2423 Queen St. E), starting Jan. 10 •Wednesdays at Beaches Hebrew Institute (109 Kenilworth Ave.). No lunch April 5 and 12 •Thursdays at Beach United Church (140 Wineva Ave.) •Fridays at Kingston Road United Church (975 Kingston Rd.). Lunch format may vary site to site. Last lunch is May 19. Info: 416-691-6869

LIBRARIES

GERRARD ASHDALE BRANCH, 1432 Gerrard St. E. •Jan. 19: Birds in the Winter, 7-8 p.m. Led by Monika Croydon of the Toronto Ornithological Club. Learn about migrant birds and their incredible journeys, visiting birds who come to the city from their boreal and Arctic homes, and our resident birds who spend the long, cold winter months here.

BEACHES BRANCH, 2161 Queen St. E. •Jan. 13: P.A. Day Colouring and Crafts, 2-3 p.m. Drop-in. Info: 416-393-7703

MAIN STREET BRANCH, 137 Main St. •Jan. 11: Python Basics I, 2-4 p.m. Open source programming for beginners. Info: 416-393-7700

CHURCHES

ST. AIDAN’S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 2423 Queen St. E. welcomes you to join us for Sunday worship at 8:30 a.m. in person, or at 10:30 a.m. (with children & youth programs) in person or on Zoom. •Tuesdays: Euchre at 7 p.m. •Wednesdays: Mid-week service, 10:30 a.m.; Christian Meditation at 7:30 p.m. All welcome. Our energetic, active church offers varied opportunities for spiritual growth, vibrant Children’s and Music programs, Youth activities, and a strong commitment to action on social justice and environmental issues. Info: www.staidansinthebeach.com, 416-691-2222

SCARBOROUGH BAPTIST CHURCH, 1597 Kingston Rd. We invite you to join us on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. for Worship In-Person and on Zoom, and Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. on Zoom only. For more information, please visit our website at www.scarboroughbaptist.ca or call the church office at 416-698-1973.

BEACH UNITED CHURCH, 140 Wineva Ave. We offer a combination of in person and

most

10:30 a.m.

in

our creative and passionate music director Steven Webb

Rev. Greg Daly our minister. In addition to Sunday services Beach United Church offers a variety of inspirational music and educational programs open to the entire Beach community. Info: beachunitedchurch.com BEACHES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 64 Glen Manor Dr. 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 Committee has been in operation for many years helping families and individuals arrive and start a new life in Canada. On the first Wednesday of every month we host a Coffee Outreach from 1 - 3 pm, an opportunity for people in the neighbourhood to gather for coffee, snacks and fellowship. For a link to the service and more info please visit our website at www.beacheschurch.org or call 416-699-5871. Minister: The Reverend Katherine McCloskey FALLINGBROOK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 35 Wood Glen Rd. Please join us Sundays at 10:30 a.m. A welcoming service involving everyone with beautiful music. Sunday school and Nursery room are provided. The services are relevant to contemporary issues with a focus on caring for all of God’s people and the earth. Fellowship to follow at our FB Café. Minister: Rev. Angela J. Cluney. Find us: www.fallingbrookpresbyterian.com or fboffice@rogers.com

BIRCHCLIFF BLUFFS UNITED CHURCH, 33 East Rd. Sundays at 10:30 a.m. We are a diverse, open, and inclusive Christian community where you will find many possibilities for nurturing your own spirituality and enriching your life, as well as opportunities to serve others through acts of caring, compassion and justice. Special monthly Musical Sunday Services (the last Sunday of each month.) Also home to the Bluffs Food Bank, Toby’s Place (a safe space for LGBTQ2S+ Youth) and Dorothy’s Place (serving LGBTQ+ seniors). Sunday school and nursery care available. Info: 416-694-4081, www.bbuc.ca

GRANT AME CHURCH, 2029 Gerrard St. E. All are welcome Sundays from 11 am to worship service inperson, Facebook, ZOOM, or YouTube livestream with Pastor Kenesha Blake-Newell. Bible study every Wednesday at 7 pm on ZOOM. Join our prayer line every Wednesday for prayer from 11 am - 12 noon. Links and info: www.grantame.com; email: grantamechurch@yahoo.ca; Info: 416-690-5169

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST NORWAY Anglican Church, 470 Woodbine Ave. 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 9 a.m. on ZOOM and In-Person or on Livestream at 10:30 a.m. We have a Food Pantry open on Monday mornings from 10 a.m.-12 noon. Info: stjohnsnorway.com, 416-691-4560

CHRIST THE SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH, 904 Coxwell Ave. We’re a caring community, grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the uncompromised truth of God’s Word. Join us for weekly Bible Studies, Christian films, and regular social events. For more information contact Pastor Tom Steers by calling or texting 647-7628067; or e-mailing tsteers@rogers.com. Lutherans were the first Protestants. Learn more about our Bible-based faith and Church at: http://christlutherantoronto.org/ CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH, 1810 Queen St. E. We celebrate daily masses Tuesday to Friday at 9 a.m., on Saturdays at 5 p.m. and on Sundays at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Coffee Hospitality is held in the parish hall after the 11 a.m. Sunday mass. The priest is available for confession Saturdays from 4-4:45 p.m. at the church. The Rosary will be said Tuesday to Friday soon after the 9 a.m. mass and Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Eucharistic Adoration is on the First Friday of every month after 9 a.m. Mass. We invite newcomers within the boundary of our parish to register with us. Info: https:// corpuschristito.archtoronto.org/ or 416-694-0382

ST. JOHN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 794 Kingston Rd. Weekend Masses: Sat. Vigil at 4:30 pm, Sun. 9 & 11 am. Weekday Masses with Rosary: Tue. - Fri. 8:15 am with Rosary beginning at 8 am. Confessions 3:45 to 4:15 pm on Sat. Info: www.stjohnsto.archtoronto.org, 416-698-1105

YouTube livestream opportunities Sundays at

We ask that all folks attending in-person worship wear a mask to help care for the

vulnerable

our community. Services are led by

and

Kingston Road United Church presents Winter Bach concerts

THE KINGSTON Road Village Concert Series will be presenting Winter Bach concerts on Sunday, Jan. 22 and Saturday, March 4.

The concerts will take place at Kingston Road United Church, 975 Kingston Rd.

The Side by Side - Winter Bach #1 concert starts at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 22.

The Side by Side - Winter Bach #2 on March 4 also starts at 7:30 p.m.

Both these concerts will feature University of Toronto music students performing “side by side” with Toronto Symphony Orchestra members..

Advance tickets for all concerts are $35, and they are $40 at the door. Children under 12 are admitted free. Those attending are reminded that food bank donations are always gratefully accepted.

To order tickets or for more information, please go to www.kruc.ca/concert-series

Acoustic Harvest concert on Jan. 21

ACOUSTIC HARVEST kicks off its slate of 2023 concerts with a performance by Teilhard Frost and Hannah Shira Naiman on the night of Saturday, Jan. 21.

A “special guest” will also join the performers at this concert.

Acoustic Harvest concerts take place at St. Paul’s United Church, 200 McIntosh St. in southwest Scarborough. Concerts begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.

Please go to www.acousticharvest.ca to order tickets and for more information on the the performers taking part in the 2023 concert season.

Trustee candidates seek seats on French boards

‘Byelection’ from Page 3

23 byelection for Conseil Scolaire Viamonde

Ward 3 – Centre ran for the position last October. Ward 3 – Centre in the Conseil Scolaire Viamonde represents approximately 3,700 voters who support the province’s French public school board.

The Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir board also saw its election for trustee in Ward 4 – Toronto Est be declared void by the city.

In that situation, the election was declared void by the city only two days before it was supposed to have taken place. Originally in that race, there were three candidates running. One of the candidates was declared ineligible and another withdrew, leaving only one name on the ballot which meant the city had to void the vote for the position.

Running in Ward 4- Toronto Est to be the

Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir trustee in the Jan. 23 byelection are:

Rhea Dechaine, Regis Joseph and Valerie Rousseau.

None of those three candidates ran for the position in the October 2022 election campaign. The Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir Ward 4 – Toronto Est is made up of approximately 3,000 voters who support the province’s French Catholic school board.

For more information on the candidates and the Jan. 23 byelections, please visit the City of Toronto’s website at www.toronto. ca/city-government/elections/by-election/byelection-candidate-list

Amarachi Amadike is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for Beach Metro Community News. His reporting is funded by the Government of Canada through its Local Journalism Initiative.

Riverdale Collegiate students protest Greenbelt development plans

By Alan Shackleton

STUDENTS AT Riverdale Collegiate Institute held a walkout on the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 21, to protest plans by the Ontario government to allow development on Greenbelt lands in and around the City of Toronto.

“Conservation is critical to our future,” said Grade 10 student Ahnaf Al Habib at the protest which was attended by a large crowd of students holding signs and chanting in front of the school on Gerrard Street East by Jones Avenue.

Habib was one of the organizers of the student walkout and protest.

“If we lose this battle for the Greenbelt, we lose the battle for the environment,” he told the students at the rally.

Ontario’s Greenbelt, which is an environmentally protected zone around and in the Greater Toronto Area including wetlands and farm land, is under threat of development due to the passing of the provincial government’s Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act.

The bill opens up large areas of the Greenbelt that had previously been deemed as protected lands for developers to now build housing on.

It was passed into law by the Progressive Conservative government of Premier Doug Ford on Nov. 28 despite protests about its environmental impact and concerns about the connections between the owners of some of the land being opened for development and the government.

Toronto-Danforth Councillor Pau-

la Fletcher attended the protest at Riverdale Collegiate and spoke to the students taking part.

She said Bill 23 should be called the Pave Over The Greenbelt Act, and that it does nothing to increase the amount of affordable housing in the province.

Fletcher said there is available space, and the desire to build more and higher buildings in Toronto, that could better address Ontario’s housing crisis than housing developments on the Greenbelt.

“Build here, not there,” she said.

Fletcher also reminded students that the nearby Don River was a part of the Greenbelt and it would be severely impacted by some of the proposed developments now being allowed under Bill 23.

Also, Fletcher said other parts of Bill 23 eliminate the park space dedications and money that the City of Toronto had previously received from developers.

“Doug Ford’s bill is taking greenspace away from you and is hurting your future,” she said.

Toronto-Danforth MP Julie Dabrusin also attended the protest and spoke to the students.

“Make sure the province hears your voice,” she said.

“It’s important to know that this is not a choice between developing the Greenbelt and affordable housing. We can do both. You don’t need to pave the Greenbelt to do that.”

The protest by the students drew the attention of passersby and drivers along Gerrard Street East, many of them honking their horns in support.

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PHOTOS: ALAN SHACKLETON

Photo above, Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher, red jacket, joins with students at Riverdale Collegiate Institute during a recent protest against the provincial government’s development plans for Greenbelt lands. Photo below, Grade 10 student Ahnaf Al Habib was one of the organizers of the walkout and protest in support of protecting the Greenbelt.

Beach Metro Community News Lucky Volunteer for Jan. 10

The Beach Metro Community News Lucky Volunteers for Jan. 10 are the Coxon/Williams family.

They have been delivering Beach Metro Community News in the Heyworth Crescent area since 1983.

First it was mom Suzanne, followed by sons Tristan and Toby Williams making the deliveries. Now, since 2010, daughter Zoe Coxon (in photo above) has been delivering the paper.

Zoe is an enthusiastic singer and can usually be heard serenading the street as she delivers her papers along the route.

Zoe and mom Suzanne are members of My Pop Choir, a non-auditioned choir for people who love to sing that used to meet at the Beaches Recreation Centre. The choir now has several locations that it meets at in Toronto and surrounding area.

Zoe and Suzanne are looking forward to performing with the choir and others from across North America and Europe at a massed a cappella choir event called Total Vocal which is slated to take place at Carnegie Hall in New York City this spring.

For being named the Beach Metro Community News Lucky Volunteers for Jan. 10, the Coxon/Williams family receives a $50 gift.

If you would like to become a Beach Metro Community News volunteer carrier, please email our Distribution Manager, Melinda Drake at melinda@beachmetro.com for all the info.

More than 70 years of Woods Drug Store

By David Van Dyke

Seventy years ago, there was no way you’d forget to pick up a pack of cigarettes as you strolled up to the Woods Drug Store to collect your new prescription.

Things are different now from how they were in 1952, but not so with much of the exterior of this pharmacy which is located on Kingston Road just north of Dundas Street East.

Do you have an old photograph of Kingston Road you’d like to share with our readership?

Please contact me at gdvandyke61@gmail.com

PHOTO: DAVID VAN DYKE

PHOTO: CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES

BALSAM DENTAL

BEACHES OPTOMETRY

Carolyn Dallman Downes

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

Emily C. Larimer

CPA, CGA BOOKKEEPING & PERSONAL TAX RETURNS

INCLUDING TAXES IN ARREARS Call: 416-693-2274 emily@eclarimercpa.com www.eclarimercpa.com

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

Commissioner/Notary,

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

KAMRULHAFIZAHMED

REAL ESTATE LAWYER 416 690 1855 [P 416 690 1866 [F 2972 DANFORTH AVE.

QUINN Family Law

Shelley C. Quinn, LL.B., LL.M. (Family Law) 662 Broadview Ave. t. (416) 551-1025 www.QuinnFamilyLaw.ca

Open Saturdays

John H. BJARNASON, D.C. Chiropractor 1906 Queen St. E. (1 block east of Woodbine) 416-694-2868

BEACHES WELLNESS CENTRE Dr. Johanna Carlo Chiropractic & Registered Massage Therapy 2130 Queen Street East 416-698-7070

ASHBRIDGE’S

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

Shelly Pereira, Paralegal

Small Claims, Landlord & Tenant/other Tribunals, Municipal Offences, Letters & Mediation.

Janet D’Arcy

Share A Christmas volunteers helped make holidays special

By Alan Shackleton

VOLUNTEERS WERE out in force on Dec. 20 to help deliver holiday cheer as part of the Community Centre 55 Share A Christmas Program.

In its 41st year, the program helps close to 1,000 families in need in the East Toronto area during the holiday season.

Toys and grocery store gift cards were being delivered to the families and individuals (depending on their needs) during the day on Dec. 20.

For many of the volunteers gathering at Community Centre 55 that morning, helping out with Share A Christmas was a family tradition.

There were three generations of the Wilkinson family collecting the bags of toys that they would be delivering in the community.

“There’s a lot of joy and happiness in people’s faces when we come around, and we’re so happy to be able to bring some Christmas cheer,” said Rebecca Wilkinson.

Also helping with the Wilkinson family deliveries were sons Xavier and R.J., and grandmother Catherine who is a former board member of Community Centre 55.

Also volunteering were Dave Addison and his son Michael.

“We’ve been doing this for 18 years,” said Dave as he loaded up the car on Swanwick Avenue which had been closed to through traffic by police so the volunteers could safely collect their donations.

He admitted that delivering toys and gro-

Letters to the Editor

cery store gift cards was a bit easier than delivering hampers full of food, including turkeys or hams, that had been done in the years prior to COVID-19.

Dave said the reactions of the families can be quite emotional when the volunteers come by to deliver.

“I remember one family just broke out in tears because this was their entire Christmas. They were in tears and hugging us, and that even got me crying. They were three generations of one family living in a one-bedroom apartment so it was really important to them.”

Community Centre 55 Executive Director Reza Khoshdel said on Dec. 20 that the need in the East Toronto area (and across the city) is increasing as people are facing more and more challenges when it come to food and housing affordability. “The demand has really increased this year,” he said.

Khoshdel said Share A Christmas simply could not happen without the tremendous support it receives from local residents, both through their volunteer efforts and their monetary and toy donations.

“We’ve had an incredible amount of support from the community and are so appreciative. A lot of generous people have helped us keep up with the demand,” he said.

For Khoshdel, who started his job as Executive Director at Community Centre 55 on Nov. 1, this has been his first Share A Christmas campaign.

“I’ve had a lot of support and many people have helped me to prepare for it, and it’s been a beautiful thing to experience.”

Article raised important issues on heritage and housing

Re: ‘Heritage Conservation District study needed for Beaches-East York’, Analysis, Beach Metro Community News, Dec. 13, 2022.

I read with great interest the article by Anika Munir.

The author brings out many points that are very important to the housing and heritage issues in our community.

She shows differences to NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) and YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) issues in which residents are for or against developments in their area.

She pointed out that housing should be put in areas that can support and will support heritage properties and commercial properties together. A comprehensible study by the city is needed on this.

She pointed out several projects that are in the works already and should be defined more clearly for the general public. She also puts our local politicians on notice that they need make sure a Heritage Conservation

District study is done. I fully support her for writing about this most important issue.

As stated, there have been other heritage studies done in the city and this area should not be excluded.

She also mentioned areas where highrises have been built on former industrial lands including Liberty Village in the west end. Here’s an historical point: Liberty Village was built on the site of the Central Prison of Ontario – the province’s first major prison from 1870 to 1915.

The article’s author also brings out references to the famous urbanist Jane Jacobs’ ideas of mixed buildings, old and new, in neighbourhoods.

I commend Anika, as a local resident, for her article.

One last comment: If Jane Jacobs were alive, she would agree with Anika’s views whole-heartedly, as do I.

Gene Domagala

PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON

Wilkinson family members Xavier, Catherine, R.J., and Rebecca loaded up their car as they prepared to deliver toy donations to families in need on Dec. 20 as part of the Community Centre 55 Share A Christmas Program.

Community meeting on 27-storey building by Cosburn/Broadview slated

By Amarachi Amadike, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

THE CITY of Toronto is hosting a virtual community consultation meeting for a development application at 16-26 Cosburn Ave. on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Residents will get an opportunity to voice opinions regarding the 27-storey building proposal at the meeting which will take place from 7 to 9 p.m.

The 20,064-square-metre building, located on the north side of Cosburn Avenue and the east side of Broadview Avenue, will overlook the Don Valley to the west.

According to the application, it will have 272 residential units as well as a 223-square-metre privately owned (publicly accessible) space in front of the building, 69 on-site vehicle parking spaces, 273 bicycle parking spaces, and a six-storey podium.

The meeting will be held online and by phone-in only. The call-in and meeting number will be available a minimum of two days in advance of the meeting date.

For more information on the Jan. 18 meeting and links on how to participate in it, please visit www.toronto.ca/ cpconsultations

For further information on the proposal, please go to www.Toronto. ca/26CosburnAve

Residents should note that a proposal for the area directly across the street, on the south side of Cosburn Avenue, is also going through

the city’s planning process.

That proposal for properties at 5 to 19 Cosburn Ave. and from 8 to 40 Gowan Ave., is proposing a 15-storey building and ground-related housing for a total of 316 residences on the site.

Anyone who is unable to participate in the Jan. 18 meeting but would still like to leave their comments or ask questions can do so by contacting Seanna Kerr (Se-

nior Planner of the City Planning Division) at Seanna. Kerr@toronto.ca or TorontoDanforth Councillor Paula Fletcher at councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca

Amarachi Amadike is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for Beach Metro Community News. His reporting is funded by the Government of Canada through its Local Journalism Initiative.

Meeting on Kingston Road development set for Jan. 26

tions set out in the settlement agreements including a rental replacement plan that is approved by the City of Toronto, officials say.

Tenant relocation and assistance is also proposed to help ensure any impacted eligible tenants are not left without housing once demolition on the existing buildings begins.

Residents who wish to send written comments regarding this application can

do so by emailing scc@toronto.ca. Written comments are being accepted up until Toronto Council gives final consideration to the proposal.

Scarborough Community Council will review the proposal before forwarding its application recommendations to the full Toronto Council for further consideration.

Decisions by Toronto Council on the rental housing demolition application are not subject to appeal to

the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Anyone who wishes to address the Scarborough Community Council public meeting on this issue directly can register to do so by emailing scc@toronto.ca or by phoning 416-396-7287, no later than 12 p.m. on Jan. 26.

Amarachi Amadike is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for Beach Metro Community News. His reporting is funded by the Government of Canada through its Local Journalism Initiative.

Photo above, this site on the north side of Cosburn Avenue, just east of Broadview Avenue, is being considered for a 27-storey residential building. A virtual community consultation meeting for the development application at 16-26 Cosburn Ave. will take place on the night of Wednesday, Jan. 18. Image below shows a rendition of the proposal, looking northeast from Cosburn Avenue.

Proposal for Canadian Tire site features two tall towers

Application part of increase in density and building heights planned for Main and Danforth area

AS PART of the continuing intensification of the Main Street and Danforth Avenue area, a proposal has now been submitted to the City of Toronto to redevelop the land on which the Canadian Tire store in the area is located.

The proposal, submitted by property owner Canadian Tire Real Estate Limited, calls for a 44-storey and a 33-storey residential buildings at the 2681 Danforth Ave. site which is just east of Main Street on the south side.

The proposed ground floor retail at the site will be a new Canadian Tire store to replace the existing one.

While the proposal has now been made official, it has long been in the works with drawings of changes to the area as part of the Main Street Planning Study in existence going back more than three years.

The proposed development for the Canadian Tire site will include 905 residential units making up 68,788 square metres of residential Gross Floor Area (GFA) and 11,066 square metres of non-residential GFA dedicated for Canadian Tire’s retail operations.

There will also be a private driveway off Danforth Avenue into the development and dedicated park space estimated to be 10 per cent of the site’s total area. The park area is expected to be at the southern end of the site.

There will be 162 vehicle park-

ing spaces for residents of the new building, 38 spaces for residential visitors, and 140 for retail, all of which will be contained within two levels of an underground parking garage. The underground garage will be accessed from a residential ramp and a retail ramp. The second floor of the underground parking garage will include a 1,246 square metre Canadian Tire auto service centre.

Also, the proposal includes a total of 907 bicycle parking spaces for the residential component, of which 815 will be long-term and 92 will be short term. In addition, there will be 24 long term and 38 short term bike parking spaces to service the retail component of the development.

The proposal for the Canadian Tire is just one of a number of developments slated for the area in the coming years.

The Main Street Planning Study was approved by Toronto Council in December of 2019 after years of consultation, and it approved numerous tall buildings and high densities in the area of Main Street and Danforth Avenue, mostly to the southeast of the intersection to take advantage of its close proximity to both a GO Train station (Danforth) and a TTC subway station (Main Street).

A number of big buildings are proposed for the area south of Danforth Avenue to the railway tracks, and east of Main Street and west of Dawes Road.

However, the Main Street Planning Study area included locations to the west of Main Street as well and also south and west to Gerrard Street East. Construction is already well underway on the 27-storey residential building on the west side of Main Street just south of Danforth Avenue and north of Stephenson Avenue.

Other proposals cited (but not necessarily approved yet) in the Main Street Planning Study include:

• Five buildings ranging in heights of 15 and 55 storeys apiece at 2575 Danforth Ave. (on portions of the existing Main Square property). This proposal was submitted to the city in August of 2022, and will bring in 1,543 new residential units

to the site.

• A mixed-use building containing 26 and 33-storey towers at located at 10-30 Dawes Rd. (just south of Danforth).

• A mixed-use building containing two towers at 24 and 30 storeys located at 9-25 Dawes Rd.

• Three residential towers standing at 49, 46 and 40 storeys, including a six-storey community centre at 6 Dawes Rd. (at the southern tip of Dawes Road just north of the Danforth GO station platform and running in an east-west direction to almost Main Street).

To see the Main Street Planning Study, go to www.toronto.ca/ city-government/planning-development/planning-studies-initiatives/ main-street-planning-study

The image above left shows a proposed development for the Canadian Tire store site on the south side of Danforth Avenue east of Main Street. It features residential buildings of 44 and 33 storeys, with a Canadian Tire retail store and auto centre at ground level and below. Image above right shows proposed (but not all approved) plans for the area of Main Street and Danforth.

The Main Menu

Hearty, inexpensive meals for winter

JAn MAin is an author, cooking instructor and caterer janmainskitchen@ yahoo.ca

THE NEWS is full of depressing information of rising grocery costs, as if we need to be reminded. Each shopping trip is a surprise. Each grocery bill reflects ever increasing costs.

With that in mind, I turned to “experts” in keeping costs down, my grandmother Ada Cargill, a product of the depression with three hungry boys and a husband to feed on a shrinking or nonexistent pay cheque and my friends who have long known the value of pulses -the most nutritious but most reasonable protein available.

You don’t need to feel hard done by with these recipes. They are perfect for winter: hearty, satisfying and tasty. They also have the added advantage of being inexpensive!

Ada’s Corn Chowder

This was a favourite winter warmer my mother used to make from a recipe of my grandmother.

My mother served it with a hearty loaf of oatmeal bread or soda bread. Recipe follows.

Please note evaporated milk whether whole or skim is an excellent source of calcium with the taste and feel of cream but with none of the fat. Due to the evaporation process the milk seems richer and creamier than milk.

2 onions, peeled and finely chopped

2 carrots, peeled and coarsely grated or finely chopped

2 large potatoes, peeled and coarsely grated or finely chopped 1/4 cup (75 mL) barley

Water to cover

1 bay leaf

1 can 19 oz/540 mL creamed corn or 2 cups (500 mL) corn Niblets

1 can

354 mL/ evaporated milk

1/4 tsp ( 1 mL) black pepper

Paprika (optional)

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven combine onions, carrots, potatoes, barley and water. Bring to the boil; reduce heat to simmer and cook until barley is tender, about 30 – 35 minutes.

Stir in bay leaf, creamed corn or corn, milk and black pepper. Simmer until hot, (but do not boil) about 5 minutes. Ready to serve. My grandmother always sprinkled the chowder with paprika to make it seem “fancy.” Makes 4-6 servings.

Whole Wheat Soda Bread

This simply made bread goes together in minutes producing a satisfying loaf in an hour, an ideal companion to soup.

For easy slicing, allow bread to cool. Bread may be wrapped well and frozen for up to 6 months.

2 cups (500 mL) allpurpose flour

2 cups (500 mL) whole wheat flour

1 cup (250 mL) quick oats

1/4 cup (50 mL) seeds: poppy, sunflower or sesame

2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder

1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda

1 tsp (5 mL) salt

1 1/2 cups (375 mL) milk mixed with 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice OR mixture milk and natural yogurt

1/3 cup (75 mL) honey or molasses

Line a 9-inch (23 cm) loaf pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 (180 C).

In a large mixing bowl, combine flours, oats, seeds, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix well. Stir in milk and honey just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake 50 – 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on rack. Remove from pan and discard parchment paper. Makes 1( 9-inch loaf) about 12 slices.

NOTE: If you prefer, soda bread is frequently shaped into a disc, scored with a knife then baked in a circular free-form shape on a baking sheet. It may reduce cooking time by a few minutes.

Lentil Soup

Red lentils in this soup dissolve to produce a thickened, creamy soup – there are numerous versions of this soup depending on the country of origin and your personal

Open Doors: Spiritual Matters

preference. Whichever recipe you choose, know that lentils are a wonderful source of inexpensive protein and are high in fibre.

Make sure you rinse your lentils thoroughly before cooking them. The rinse water should be clear before you add the lentils to the soup.

Serve with a slice of the whole grain bread and you have a budget friendly meal!

2 tbsp (25 mL) olive oil

1 large onion, chopped 1 large clove garlic, minced

1 carrot, chopped

1 cup (250 mL) red lentils, thoroughly rinsed 2 tsp (10 mL) oregano 1 bay leaf

1 L (4 cups) chicken stock, additional water if necessary

1 can (28 oz/796 mL) diced tomatoes 1 tbsp (15 mL) wine vinegar

1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt and black pepper

In large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium high. Cook onions and garlic until softened about 3 minutes. Stir in carrots, lentils, oregano, bay leaf and chicken stock. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 3040 minutes until lentils are soft.

Stir in tomatoes, wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Continue cooking another 10 minutes to blend flavours. If soup is very thick add water to desired consistency. Taste. Adjust seasoning. Discard bay leaf. Ladle soup into serving bowls. Makes 6 servings.

Beaches Presbyterian Church a welcoming place

kAtheRine MccloSkey

When I first arrived at Beaches Presbyterian Church, I was not sure of what to expect.

I knew what I wanted to find there beginning with the fact that Beaches Presbyterian is in my favourite Toronto neighbourhood and wondered if it might become my home congregation.

Beaches reputation for being a justice minded, creative, musically gifted and affirming church family did not disappoint.

Early on, I was struck by the determined way that everyone worked together so that even the quietest voice might be heard.

Added to this was the array of food that was shared at the first Maundy

Thursday potluck that I attended. The home-made salsa, soups, breads and eclectic selection of cheeses, affirmed my sense of call. If only because I knew that the God of my understanding would not be so cruel as to place such an incredible feast in front of me unless it was God’s intention for me to settle in and stay for a while!

That was more than six years ago, and I can honestly say that all the things that made Beaches Presbyterian Church great when I first arrived have only gotten better.

From welcoming a Syrian family to Canada in the middle of COVID, to pivoting to a hybrid style of worship, partnering with the Girl Guides who built our Li’l Pantry, hosting an Outreach Coffee each month, and painting our stairs Rainbow, Beaches Presbyterian continues to live out her call to

be a place where people are welcomed and can be where they and their families are in their faith journey.

By asking challenging questions at our Theology on Tap meetings, during our Jazz Sundays and weekly worship services, Beaches Presbyterian Church seeks a deepened understanding of what it means to be walk with God in a world as complex as this one.

While at the same time, creating space in our ministry to form a meaningful partnership with ARISE Ministry, which provides direct outreach and meaningful support to people involved in the sex trade, survivors of sexual exploitation and those at risk.

Reminding us that as busy as we are, there is still a great deal left to be done, and most importantly, more people for us to reach out to and to meet.

We can meet on Sunday

mornings at 10 a.m., where homemade cranberry cinnamon bread is shared on the second Sunday of each month.

Or we can meet on Jan. 11 at our next outreach coffee that takes place from 1 to 3 p.m.

And that is why you are also invited to visit our website at www.beacheschurch. org to take a closer look.

Especially on the days when there appears to be more conflict than peace, more need than resources and more darkness than light, but for the promise that the God who hovered over the chaos at the start of creation, is God with us, breathing life where we are and steeping all creation in love.

Reverend Katherine McCloskey is the minister of Beaches Presbyterian Church on Glen Manor Drive.

Rev

Beaches Presbyterian Church

Reel Beach: Movies in East Toronto

The Fox Theatre: A sign of the times

BeRnie FletcheR

Queen Street is the beating heart of the Beach. Raise a New Year’s toast to three local favourites: the Fox Theatre, the Garden Gate Restaurant and Cobs Bread (great toasted or not).

The Fox has a stylish new marquee, a sign our old friend is here to stay.

To celebrate, general manager Kristal Cooper posted historical photos on the Fox social media asking, “Which one of these signs did the Fox Theatre have when you first came to see a movie?”

I am dating myself but I remember the grand marquee with its vertical neon sign which graced the front of the theatre until it had to be taken down in 1977.

The owner at the time, Ken Swire, told Beach Metro Community News, “It was leaking, rusting out and the lights on the Fox name wouldn’t work. It was so old it was ready to fall on somebody’s head if anyone touched it.”

The sly Fox has survived two World Wars, a Great Depression, the rise of television, a leaking roof, a pandemic and stolen kisses in the dark.

The tale of the Fox opened on April 14, 1914 as “The Theatre without a Name” holding a naming contest.

The marquee for “The Pastime” went up on April 19, but the winds of war soon brought the name “Prince Edward” in a fer-

vour of patriotism in January of 1915.

The early canopy over the sidewalk was rather drab, but the era of neon lights would change the look of movie theatres into bright beacons of entertainment that set the night aglow in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

After the scandalous abdication of the King, the name of the theatre was changed to the Fox in 1937.

The grand opening was held on Aug. 2, 1937 with a Joan Crawford film at “Sunday midnight”.

Sunday films were forbidden in Toronto the Good. You couldn’t have people enjoying themselves!

With the Beach community rallying around it, Canada’s longest continuouslyoperated movie theatre has been helped out through the pandemic with popcorn sales, naming rights to the seats, rentals to private parties and film shoots such as Fingernails

Across the street since 1952 is the landmark Garden Gate Restaurant known affectionately by locals as “the Goof” because the “d” lights once went out in the big “Good Food” sign.

Stars like Matt Damon have lived in the Beach while filming.

Mila Kunis stayed here in the summer of 2021 for Luckiest Girl in the World.

In a “Q and Eh” for netflixinyourneighbourhood.ca

Kunis praised Toronto as “family-friendly”.

“I loved it…my kids loved it...they had the greatest

summer. There’s a local bakery that we started going to so often they would like start putting things out for the kids. It was wonderful and the people there were so lovely,” she said.

“I absolutely love it. I was ready to move there and then my husband reminded me about your winters…and

then I chose against it, but I was down for the summers.”

January may not be the best time to sing the praises of the Beach, but we can dream about warm summer breezes by the lake.

Let’s all support local business.

We can get through a long winter together!

Photo at left shows the Fox sign sometime around 1950. The photo above shows it in the 1960s. Photo bottom left shows the sign in March of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning and businesses were shutting due to lockdowns. Photo below shows the new sign installed late last year.

Sights of the season

Breakfasts with Santa

Balmy Beach Advent houses

Carolling in the Park

Menorah lighting celebrates Hanukkah

Balmy Beach area residents teamed up in December to create a neighbourhood Advent calendar display in the lead up to Christmas Day. Residents at participating houses in the area of Hazel Avenue and Fernwood Park Avenue decorated their homes with a number for each of the days leading into Christmas Day. Shown are the displays for Dec. 1, Dec. 10 and Dec. 24.

PHOTOS: LUANNE PUCCI

Beach residents turned out in big numbers for the return of the Carolling in the Park event after a two-year absence due to COVID-19 restrictions. The event took place in Glen Stewart Park and featured music by the Salvation Army Band and a visit from Santa.

PHOTOS: SUSAN LEGGE

Pancakes with Santa was a popular event in the days leading up to Christmas. Photo above, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 11’s Breakfast with Santa event. Photo at right, the Beaches Recreation Centre’s Breakfast with Santa event.

PHOTOS: ADAM OWEN-GILL

Residents gathered together to light the first candle of the Menorah on Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Queen Street East entrance to Woodbine Park. Speakers at the ceremony included David Brown (Beach Citizen of the Year for 2022 and owner of Fearless Meat on Kingston Road), Rabbi Sholom Lezell of Chabad Danforth-Beaches, Beaches-East York MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and Beaches-East York MPP Mary-Margaret McMahon. The ceremony at Woodbine Park was a special one as the Menorah was placed there in response to antisemitic graffiti that had been written on the sidewalk in front of a church across the street.

PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Personal Care

Family caregiver, live-out, full time 32-35 hrs/week, $17/hr beginning Feb 2nd. Care for a male patient, 39 yr old w/developmental delay. Duties: prepare meals, assist client in bathing, administer medication, accompany to appointments, provide companionship, etc. McCowan & Ellesmere. cenabuiza@gmail.com (22)

Live-in caregiver for a 21 year old female w/developmental delay. Responsibilities include personal hygiene, prepare healthy meals, accompany to different appointments & act as guardian in the absence of parents. Full time, 40 hrs/week, $17/hr, beginning Feb. 6th. Warden Ave. & St. Clair. Email app’n to: Bernr08_2001@hotmail.com (22)

In a Mess?

General Services

WAYNE’S

MR. FIX-IT

PROFESSIONAL, MATURE, RELIABLE RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS 10+ years experience Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry, Painting, and Handy Work. Randall 416-450-0599 torontomrfixit@gmail.com (20r)

Peter the Handyman INDOOR /

OUTDOOR

General repairs: Drywall / Caulking / Painting / Decks / Fences Odd jobs: Fixtures, TV, Shelf & Picture install / Furniture assembly (IKEA)... & much more! Call/text Peter 416 577 4252(20)

ALL AROUND HANDYMAN with Truck Available for Pick-up and Delivery Call Kevin The Carpenter 647-282-8375 Serving the Beach for 15 years (20r)

Well Trained Handy Husband Catering to small jobs around your home that others won’t do! Reliable & trustworthy with returning happy customers. $60 hour, one hour minimum. Call, email or text to discuss.

Glenn 416-709-2930 superglenn@bell.net (20r)

HANDYMAN / HELPER

Leaves, Yard Cleanup Garage Cleanups & Junk Removal

Other various jobs 20 yrs exp. Quality work. Good prices. Call Greg 437 230-4824 (20.)

CTD Handyman Services

General repairs indoor/outdoor. Drywall, painting, carpentry,

KEW BEACH

GENERAL CONTRACTING

ALANO TILE & RENO

Jack of all Trades

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Basements, Kitchens, Bathrooms Fences, Decks, Drywall, Carpentry No job too small. Free estimates. Serving the Beaches for 15 years. 416-278-5328 (20.)

DRYWALL

Replacement and repair. Hardwood Floors Small to medium jobs only, please. Clean. Professional. 43 yrs experience. I won’t leave until you are 110% satisfied Please call Colin at 416-347-0974 for a free quote. (20)

PHOTOS: ALAN SHACKLETON

Members of the These Boots Are Made for Hiking group welcomed 2023 on New Year’s Day with a polar bear dip event into Lake Ontario off Balmy Beach.