Beach Metro Community News September 3, 2024

BuskerFest fun in Woodbine Park

MPP concerned over impact of closing South Riverdale’s safe injection site

By Amarachi Amadike

THE PROVINCE of Ontario recently announced a new policy banning safe injection sites from operating within 200 metres of schools or childcare facilities.

The announcement on Aug. 20 means that 10 facilities in Ontario — including the South Riverdale Community Health Clinic (SRCHC) near Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue; the facility which prompted the provincial government’s review of all its safe drug consumption sites — will shut down.

“Our Board and senior staff will be carefully reviewing the Minis-

ter of Health’s announcement this afternoon and the implications for consumption and treatment services (CTS) in the province,” said SRCHC Director of Community Engagement and Communications, Gabriella Skubincan in an email statement to Beach Metro Community News shortly after the announcement.

Safe injection sites, designed to prevent overdoses by providing supervised drug use, have a polarizing reputation.

With more than 500 fatalities from opioid toxicity in Toronto last year, and more than 2,600 opioidrelated deaths across all of On-

tario, advocates, such as TorontoDanforth NDP MPP Peter Tabuns, believe that providing drug users who are on a path to sobriety with a controlled environment will be beneficial to their well-being.

“The experience of other communities, according to health professionals, is that a lack of safe facilities means more public drug use, much more demand on local ambulance and hospital services, more needles scattered about and likely more deaths on the street, in the washrooms of local restaurants and in people’s homes,” said Tabuns.

But critics point to reports of

increased violence in neighbourhoods that host such facilities.

Following the death of Leslieville resident Karolina Huebner-Makurat, the 44-year-old mother of two who was killed by a stray bullet in a daytime shooting near Queen and Carlaw in July of 2023 (the intersection where SRCHC is located), the facility was put under the microscope as community members called for a halt to its safe consumption services.

Before the incident, residents had urged officials to help control the rising violence, which they attributed to SRCHC’s safe consump-

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Terry Fox Run set for Sept. 15 in the Beach

By Alan Shackleton

ORGANIZERS OF this year’s Toronto-Beaches Terry Fox Run are grateful for the huge community support of the run since 1982, and are looking forward to hosting this year’s run 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. In-person registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 15 at the pavilion across from the Woodbine Beach Bathing Station. Those planning to take part are also encouraged to register in advance at https://run.terryfox.ca/55940

Jessica Tepper and Bridget Keroglidis are the volunteer organizers for the Terry Fox Run in the Beach. Keroglidis has been involved with the local run as an organizer since 2022, and has personal experience of dealing with the fight against cancer as it took her mother’s life.

She said the theme of the 2024 Terry Fox Run, which is No Matter What, is especially meaningful to her.

““I love this year’s theme because it highlights the resilience of Terry Fox, and his strength and courage. Terry said we were going to have a world without cancer ‘No Matter What’,” said Keroglidis.

Tepper has been involved with the Beaches Terry Fox Run for the past three years, and said the participation of so many community members makes the job of organizing the event a rewarding one.

“It’s really quite amazing the support, and to see how many people come out. They bring their families, their kids and dogs. Whole families take part from the youngest child to grandparents and it’s a real tradition for them,” said Tepper.

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PHOTO: ALAN SHACKLETON

Daniel Craig and Kimberly Craig of The Street Circus perform at BuskerFest in Woodbine Park on Friday. The annual festival in support of Epilepsy Toronto took place over the Labour Day long weekend and also featured the annual Bark in the Park celebration.

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‘MPP’ from Page 1

tion site. Neighbours shared stories of alleged violent threats directed at them from SRCHC safe consumption clients as well as complaints of streets that were littered with used needles and drug paraphernalia.

There was further outrage that the Ontario government approved the safe consumption site despite its proximity to Morse Street Junior Public School.

“We have to ask, what was the basis for the decision if it was not based on any study of what went on?” said Tabuns. “If the government’s position is that no CTS should operate within 200 metres of a school or childcare centre, then why is the centre not being relocated to a place that meets those rules?”

With 10 of the 17 provincially regulated consumption and treatment services (CTS) set to be affected by Ontario’s new zoning restrictions, there will now be a shortage of services for those battling addiction.

“I am fearful that (Premier Doug) Ford’s decision will result in more needles on the street, more public drug use and more deaths,” said Tabuns.

“I don’t think that all these harmful effects are what our community wants.”

During the announcement of safe consumption site closures, Ontario pledged $378 million for Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs to fill the void that has been created.

But, Clare Hacksel, a Leslieville resi dent and federal NDP candidate for Toronto-Danforth, told Beach Metro Community News that investing in replacement safe consumption facilities is vital in Ontario’s battle against drug addiction.

utilize their expertise to reverse many overdoses which, consequently, eases pressures in Toronto emergency rooms.

According to SRCHC, there were 355 non-fatal overdose calls attended by Toronto Paramedic Services for suspected opioid overdose this past June. The health clinic’s safe consumption wing, keepSIX, “reversed 74 overdoses and 517 overdoses at Moss Park.”

With keepSIX welcoming more than 8,700 patients with an average of 733 monthly visits between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, those battling addiction have lost a vital resource.

“People who live in this community access the centre to manage the illness that they have,” said Hacksel.

“That (illness) doesn’t go away just because you close (the site). Could you move it an extra 100 metres to get it outside that 200-metre bubble? I think that’s worth exploring.”

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Dabrusin said that SRCHC’s services are vital to the community’s well-being.

She told Beach Metro Community News that Ontario needs to be “guided by science and medical experts” who support harm reduction services as a requirement for rehabilitation.

“People with addictions will continue to live in our community even after the safe consumption site is closed,” said Dabrusin.

”The danger to their lives, and the paraphernalia associated with opioid use remains regardless of the continued operation of the CTS.”

Along with SRCHC, there will be four other supervised drug consumption sites shutting down in Toronto.

These include Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre; Regent Park Community Health Centre; Toronto Public Health at 277 Victoria St.; and Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site.

“When I watched the announcement, what I found troubling was that I don’t know what evidence that Doug Ford and Minister (Sylvia) Jones put forward to say that this move will mean fewer needles in the alley where my kid plays, or the school yard where he goes to school every day,” said Hacksel.

Hacksel believes that this loss, once implemented, will be felt by the neighbourhood which she said is filled with people who are supportive of having a safe consumption site.

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“I’ve canvassed more than 1,000 doors in our neighbourhood this summer,” said Hacksel. “I’ve heard people say they have concerns about this particular site...”

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Hacksel said that the announcement felt like a closure rather than a reevaluation of the sites’ locations, leaving cities like Toronto ill equipped to provide support for people suffering from addiction.

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“And I’d ask if they want to see no harm reduction programs, or have more of a conversation about (SRCHC) services. Very consistently, my neighbours would tell me that they’re uncomfortable with the current location, and management, but they don’t want to see services just gone.”

Toronto-Danforth Liberal MP Julie

According to the provincial government, these sites will stop operating no later than March 31, 2025.

“Based on (Ontario’s) announcement, it appears the province has decided to close this site without a plan to open a replacement service,” said Dabrusin.

“I hope that next steps announced by the province will include safety considerations for the closure and relocation of the site.”

Although welcoming of the Ford government’s plans to fund Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment hubs, Dabrusin said that the province must also address the full spectrum of care to support people on their road to good health.

The South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC), located on Queen Street East just east of Carlaw Avenue, is set to close its safe drug consumption site following a new provincial policy banning such sites within 200 metres of schools or childcare facilities.

Local run has raised more than $2.3 million since 1982

‘Terry’

from Page 1

“It’s not just for runners but for the full family. I can’t wait to see all that support again this year.”

Keroglidis said dogs (and their owners) are a big part of the run and are always welcome. “We love to see the puppies,” she said.

One of the reasons for the strong local support of the run is not just that it has been taking place for more than 40 years, but that the Beaches Terry Fox Run has also always taken place in the same location.

It starts on the Boardwalk just west of the Woodbine Bathing Station and continues westward into Ashbridges Bay Park and then loops back to the starting point.

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.

The Beaches Terry Fox Run alone has raised more than $2.3 million for cancer research since it first started in 1982, said Keroglidis.

Nationally, with hundreds of runs across Canada each year, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised in excess of $850 million.

“And that goes so far to fund cancer research. There’s cross-Canada co-ordination

and researchers share their information,” said Keroglidis.

“It’s so important we keep this research going as it has made a huge difference, and our cancer survival rates are so much better now.”

Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope to raise awareness of and funding for cancer research in 1980. The run started in April in Newfoundland and saw Fox run for 143 days, through six provinces, and covering 5,373 kilometres.

Fox had to end his run on Sept. 1, 1980 just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The cancer he had had returned and he was unable to continue the run. Fox died in June of 1981 at the age of 22.

The first Terry Fox Run in his memory was held in September of 1981.

Keroglidis said that along with participating in the run, she is hoping residents will also share their stories as to why they are running.

“People want to share their stories with us and it really inspires us to do this work of organizing the run,” she said. “It’s important to us and we want to highlight their stories.”

For more information, and to register or make a donation to the Toronto-Beaches Terry Fox Run, please go to https://run.terryfox. ca/55940

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Deja Views

A look back to Queen and Kingston

By David Van Dyke

The above photograph shows a TTC bus turning onto Queen Street East from Kingston Road in what is believed to be sometime in the 1970s.

In the background can be seen the former CIBC building, beside what was then Bea’s Snack Bar which was across the street from the racetrack.

The photo below shows the same northwest corner of Queen and Kingston today as it awaits possible development into a six-storey condo project called The Beach House. At the moment, construction on that site has paused. There’s more info on that story in the Aug. 20 edition of Beach Metro Community News and on the website at www.beachmetro.com.

Do you have an old photo of Kingston and Queen (or maybe of the racetrack) that you would consider sharing with our readers? why not contact me at gdvanyke61@gmail.com

Centre 55’s Community Fall Fair planned for Sept. 14

COMMUNITY CENTRE 55 will present its Community Fall Fair on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The fair will take place at the Beaches Recreation Centre, 6 Williamson Rd., from 1 to 4 p.m. The annual fair helps bring the Beach community together to celebrate the special programs and services that are available to residents from Community Centre 55.

There will be family activities, prizes, raffles, musical performances by Mur-

ray Powell, games, auctions, food and refreshments at the fair on Sept. 14.

Donors and supporters to the fair include a number of local businesses and organizations such as Cobs Bakery, Charlie Pickles, Pippins Tea Company, Chef Ava Chilieli and the ROM.

Community Centre 55, located at 97 Main St., offers a wide variety of programs for residents including seniors’ activities, child care, and support for families and residents. It has been serv-

ing the East Toronto community since 1975. For more information on the fall fair, please contact Jennifer, Community Centre 55’s Special Events and Volunteer co-ordinator, at jennifer@centre55. com

Also, Community Centre 55 will host its annual Classic Show and Shine Car Show on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bob Acton Park, 45 William Hancox Ave.

PHOTO: DAVID VAN DYKE

The Donald D Summerville outdoor pools at the foot of Woodbine Avenue (1867 Lake Shore Blvd. E.) will be among two East Toronto outdoor pools that have extended opening times stretching to Sept. 22 this year.

Two local outdoor pools, beaches staying open longer

EAST TORONTO residents will have a number of swimming options to help stay cool through the early weeks of September.

Two local pools are among a number of the city’s outdoor pools that will be staying open for an extra three weeks this summer, extending their times available for public swimming all the way to Sept. 22. Usually, all of the city’s outdoor pools close for the season on the Sunday of the Labour Day long weekend.

Also, lifeguard supervision at local beaches including Woodbine Beach, Kew-Balmy Beach and Cherry Beach will be extended into this week.

There will be lifeguards on duty at those beaches (and Sunnyside Beach in the west end) from Tuesday, Sept. 3 to Sunday, Sept. 8. The lifeguards will be on duty between 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. In past years, lifeguard supervision at city beaches has ended on Labour Day.

Mayor Olivia Chow and Scarborough Centre Councillor Michael Thompson made the announcement of the extension of opening times for a total of 10 city pools, and the impacted beaches, on Thursday, Aug. 28.

The East Toronto outdoor pools that will be remaining open until Sept. 22 are the Donald D Summerville pools (1867 Lake Shore Blvd. E.) and the Riverdale Park East pool (550 Broadview Ave.).

Other outdoor pools remaining open in

the city for the extended time are Alex Duff Pool (779 Crawford St.), Alexandra Park (275 Bathurst St.), Heron Park Community Centre (292 Manse Rd.), McGregor Park Community Centre (2231 Lawrence Ave. E.), Goulding Park Community Centre (45 Goulding Ave.), Broadlands Community Centre (19 Castlegrove Blvd.), Pine Point Arena (15 Grierson Rd.), and the West Mall Outdoor Pool (370 The West Mall).

The opening hours for all of the pools staying open until Sept. 22 will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and from noon to 7 p.m. on weekends.

With a warm stretch of weather expected in September, the city said that by keeping the 10 outdoor pools open for more days it is “providing another option for residents and families to cool down during the warm late summer days.”

The 10 pools to stay open longer were selected based on location, availability of staff, and sufficient lighting for evening programming, as the sun goes down earlier in September.

All other city-owned and operated outdoor pools and wading pools closed on Sept. 1.

For more information on the City of Toronto’s pools, including hours of opening, please go to www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parksrecreation/program-activities/swim-wateractivities/swimming-water-play

Meeting on Cliffside condo proposal slated for Sept. 19

A PUBLIC Meeting will be held by Scarborough Community Council on Sept. 19 to discuss a proposal for a 13-storey residential building on Kingston Road in Cliffside.

The proposed condominium building, which will feature retail space on the ground floor, is planned for 2257 Kingston Rd. just west of Ridgemoor Avenue.

This site on the south side of Kingston Road, owned by Equiton Inc., is currently home to a one-storey shopping plaza and a two-storey non-residential building. The site of the development is just north of Cliffside Public School, and the proposed building’s main entrance will front on East Haven Drive.

The proposed development site takes in the shopping plaza starting at the Pony Mart, running eastward until Wholeness Massage Therapy at Ridgemoor Avenue.

The current development proposes a total gross floor area of 24,825.5 square metres, which includes 1,076 square metres of nonresidential (commercial) gross floor area.

The proposed building will have 321 residential units, according to the latest version of the proposal from June of this year.

The breakdown of the residential units is 23 studios, 83 one-bedrooms, 68 one-bedrooms plus den, 78 two-bedrooms, 37 twobedrooms plus den, 32 three-bedrooms and/ or three-bedrooms plus den.

It will also include two levels of underground parking providing 202 vehicular spaces.

Two-hundred and sixty-eight bicycle parking spaces are also included in the development at grade and in the ground floor and first level of the underground space.

At the Sept. 19 meeting, which is slated for 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers at the Scarborough Civic Centre (150 Borough Dr.), members of Scarborough Community Council will receive input and review the proposal before making a recommendation on it that will be forwarded for consideration by full Toronto Council.

Anyone wishing to take part in the Sept. 19 meeting, or present information to it, is asked to take one of the following actions:

• To speak directly at the meeting, either in person or by phone or video conference, please register by email to scc@toronto.ca or by phone at 416-397-4579 no later than noon on Sept. 18. Those who register will be contacted with instructions on how to participate in the meeting.

• Comments on the proposal can also be emailed to scc@toronto.ca or sent by regular mail to City Clerk, Attention: Nancy Martins, Administrator, Scarborough Community Council, 100 Queen St. W., 2nd Floor, West Tower, Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2.

For more information on this proposal for 2257 Kingston Rd., please go to www.toronto. ca/city-government/planning-development/ application-details/?id=5204562&pid=695993 &title=2257-KINGSTON-RD

Toronto Lakefront Community swims in support of beach accessibility

Jane anderson

Toronto Lakefront Community

As of Aug. 26, the Ripple Effect Charity Swim campaign has raised more than $4,000 for the Rick Hansen Foundation! The local advocacy group Toronto Lakefront Community (TLC) hosted a fundraiser throughout August in support of the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF).

Most Canadians may be familiar with Rick Hansen’s 1985 Man in Motion World Tour, but may not be familiar with the foundation that was established in 1988, whose mission includes removing barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities.

Over the past four weeks, our

team of experienced, open-water swimmers swam at Cherry Beach, Centre Island, Woodbine, KewBalmy and Bluffers Park Beach, to both fundraise and to observe each beach’s accessibility features. Insightful feedback was provided by people with disabilities. Surprisingly none of these beaches currently provide access to the water, and there is limited access to the sand for people with disabilities.

On Saturday Aug. 24, RHF

Ambassador Robert Hampson and his guide dog Kelly joined us at Kew-Balmy Beach.

Before we headed into the water for our latest fundraising swim Robert shared his experience. Blind since age four, Robert had to learn to adapt to daily living. He said that people with disabilities are always facing challenges,

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like proving to other people what they are capable of, and overcoming negative attitudinal barriers. At age eight, Robert swam two kilometres across the lake at camp with the help of a sighted guide. Soon Robert joined Variety Village where he was coached by Vicki Keith. He swam competitively for 17 years, winning medals at the provincial, national, and Paralympic levels.

Robert mentioned that one thing he enjoyed about swimming is the freedom of movement. He is not bound by the ground, or obstacles. Swimming seems to be universally beneficial and is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all physical abilities.

Robert’s swimming success led him to embrace other activities. Today he downhill skis, rock

climbs, waterskis, scuba dives, sails, tandem cycles, and curls. He has even tried skydiving and driving a race car. Trying new things allows him to be active and part of the community.

We were all inspired by Robert’s story. As passionate open-water swimmers we related to the joy that swimming brings us, and the camaraderie of our swim community here in the Beach.

That brings us to the issue of access to the water for persons with disabilities.

At Woodbine Beach we met a woman who used a wheelchair for mobility. She was an avid swimmer, and expressed disappointment that the current plastic mat did not extend to the water. She also had to turn her wheelchair around and go backwards onto

the mat otherwise her wheels got stuck in the gap between the Boardwalk and the mat.

Another person, who was blind and used a white cane, found the joints between the plastic panels were bumpy and not cane-friendly. Because the plastic panels are not porous, the sand drifts away from the edges creating a lip which could be jarring or a tripping hazard for a blind person if they stepped down unexpectedly. As able-bodied people we often don’t think about the challenges a small thing like drifting sand might be for others.

At Centre Island beach we even had difficulty getting our beach cart onto the mat! Someone had to lift the back end. We discovered there is no beach wheelchair there,

Capital gains tax changes address inequality

Re: ‘If capital gains tax was zero, the wealthy would in invest in Canadian companies’, Letters, Aug. 20, Beach Metro Community News.

First I empathize with the writer regarding the need for a home repair, but repair costs come with home ownership. With all due respect there is misinformation regarding how capital gains are taxed in Canada.

My wife and I own a Canadian stock that pays a decent dividend and we use that to purchase more of that stock through a stock purchase plan.

But almost every year we sell some of that stock and calculate the capital gain (from an ongoing spreadsheet) and pay the tax on that sale every year at tax time.

We all pay tax based on our marginal tax rate (Marginal tax rates are the highest percentage rate of the income tax you pay). So the capital gain is treated as income and is taxed at the marginal tax rate, which for us is somewhere between five and 15 per cent. So if it is 10 per cent then half of the capital gain is taxed at 10 per cent. The other half is not taxed at all. The mention of 75 per cent tax on capital gain at the marginal rate does not apply since the writer did

not reach $250,000 in capital gain.

The writer says his savings are illiquid because they are locked in his home. This asset, the home, perhaps worth in the millions in Toronto can be accessed or borrowed against at a very low rate of interest. Toronto also has a program to defer property taxes, to be paid later from the estate.

I would not like to live in a country where citizens who own assets/investments like stocks and property, whose value has historically increased in value over time would pay zero tax on the capital gains of these assets, while working people pay tax on 100 per cent of their wages.

That is just unfair. We have enough inequality in Canada already without allowing that.

I also empathize with seniors for whom the Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Canada Pension Plan are still not enough income. I support a Guaranteed Liveable Basic Income for every adult including seniors. I do applaud the Canadian government for recently increasing the amount of some senior benefits.

Murray Lumley

An act of kindness in the Beach

Only in the Beach…An act of kindness.

When I was walking home from Ashbridges Bay after watching my niece’s son and daughter play in the Beach Volleyball Nationals, I passed a large family gathering having a barbecue. It smelled so good and I smiled and said hello in a grandmotherly way.

As I was walking away they beckoned me back and asked me to join them for lunch. I couldn’t resist and in no time I was eating the best grilled chicken in a pita that I’ve ever eaten.

Eventually I met the whole family and they told me they had arrived this past year from Afghanistan. The kids said they were so happy here.

I even helped their three year old by telling his Mom she should put some ice on his wasp sting.

As I left, with a take home food package, I thanked them profusely and all I could think of to say was, “Welcome to Canada.”

Barb Muirhead

In My Opinion

As an editorial cartoonist, I will challenge any and all politicians

Bill suddick Beach Metro Community News cartoonist

In response to the recent Letters to the Editor in the July 16 and Aug. 20 editions of Beach Metro Community News regarding my editorial cartoon in the June 25 edition about the new capital gains tax, I will address a few points:

First, let me clearly state that my editorial cartoons are my own opinions and not necessarily those of the paper. After 40+ years, they usually allow me free rein. Don’t let my take on this or any topic stop you from supporting local journalism and free speech. Both are under attack nowadays.

Imagine that… somebody objecting to another tax grab.

I’ve never been keen on capital gains taxes. These were first brought in by Pierre Trudeau’s government back in 1972.

Even as a teenager, it occurred to me that paying additional tax on money earned from investing after-tax dollars seemed unfair.

I’m not averse to paying my taxes. Taxes, as we all know, are necessary in order to pay for services and to help others who are not as fortunate.

I’ve been paying taxes most of my life. I pay income taxes. I pay sales taxes. I pay property and municipal taxes. I pay taxes at the gas pump. I pay taxes at the LCBO. I pay tax if I buy a home in Toronto. I pay taxes on any gains I’m lucky enough to eke out from my hard-earned, after-tax dollars. In some cases, I pay taxes on taxes.

Silly me. I thought some of that money went toward helping the less fortunate in our society, yet I see more and more homeless people and encampments all over Canada. I saw considerably less of these before Mr. Justin Trudeau was elected as Prime Minister.

If the government could guarantee that my capital gains taxes would go toward helping my millennial son purchase a home, I’d be on board with bells and whistles. But that just isn’t the case, is it?

A lot of that money seems to go toward things like the ArriveCan fiasco, $9-million condos in New York City, big catering bills, a civil service that has expanded by 40 per cent, big bonuses for CBC executives… etc,etc... Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, like a pair of fervid, fake-sincere, televangelists, smugly claimed they’ve introduced this new capital gains tax in the name of “gen-

erational fairness.”

Now that is misleading.

It’s nothing more than a reprehensible attempt to gain much needed votes from young people by creating a class war, pitting them against their own Baby Boomer parents and grandparents.

“If we vote for Justin,” ask the GenZs hopefully, “he’ll help us. Won’t he?”

The chances of that are slim and none. The Millennials already know what he did to them.

It’s also a desperate attempt to keep up with an ever-ballooning deficit.

We’re on the verge of the greatest transfer of transgenerational wealth in our history and Trudeau wants a bigger piece of it. He knows it’s the perfect storm of Death and Taxes.

In bringing in this new tax, Trudeau admits no responsibility for the state of our economy and the housing crisis. In 2023, he stated that the federal government is not responsible for housing.

I quote: “I’ll be blunt … housing is not a primary federal responsibility.”

Well, yeah, it is.

Especially if the federal government invites half a million new folks into the country annually.

It’s ironic that one of his campaign promises in 2015 was to build more “affordable housing.”

That term has been a buzzword since I started doing editorial cartoons more than 40 years ago. What does it mean? There’s subsidized housing. And then there’s what the market will bear. The cost of land, building materials and labour rarely, if ever, drop.

Rampant money laundering… called “snow-washing,” has been occurring in Canada for years. It happens here because our anti-laundering/transparency laws have been very weak and easily manipulated. It has been driving up house prices, but nobody seems to want to talk about it.

The United States Department of Justice is currently scrutinizing one of our big banks for its possible involvement in this south of the border. You can read more about it in this Toronto Star story at http://bit.ly/4dLeE7S.

One of the letter-writers said: “We seniors, who have benefitted incredibly from home and second properties values increasing while we slept.”

Seriously? “While we slept…”?

We worked very hard and scrimped to buy our houses. We didn’t cause inflation.

Nor did we make the toothless laws that allow money launderers to buy up Canadian housing at a premium and force prices up beyond what young

Fall in Love with a New Home

Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or stay informed, we’re here to help you make the most of the fall market. No matter where you are in the process, we’re always happy to talk real estate. As we say, real estate starts here!

*Not

Canadians are able to pay.

Besides, we also pay a lot of money to maintain and improve our properties. Personally, I don’t cut my lawn or clean my gutters in my sleep. (I kind of wish I could.) Taxes and the cost of services have climbed too. “Scot-free?” Hardly.

At least the letter-writer got the name of his organization right when he called them “generation squeeze.”

It’s clear to me that Trudeau and Freeland want to put the squeeze on all generations.

Take note: Based on the letterwriter’s advice, Trudeau is now raising the possibility of removing the primary residence exemption.

I’m sure hard working 30-somethings trying to get into the market or making big mortgage payments will be absolutely thrilled to hear about that.

The other letter called my cartoon “easy, childish, inane and opportunistic.”

I will support the writer’s right to express his opinion without question or malice.

Several of my family members were killed or maimed in the First World War and the Second World War. They fought and died for the right to speak your mind.

One of the later letters supporting me called me “brave” for creating that editorial cartoon. Thank you, but nope, those guys who fought in wars for our freedom were brave.

I’m just doing what should be expected of citizens in a democracy, and that is, to speak up and actively question poor leadership.

Hopefully Mr. Trudeau won’t freeze my assets over it.

It’s true, Mr. Trudeau has steadily provided a bumper crop of low hanging fruit for his critics throughout his tenure.

It is of no fault of mine that he is, indeed, an easy target, thanks to his many scandals, gaffes, and coverups. Unfortunately, there are too many to list here. (That’s another column.)

It’s hardly a mere fad to call him out on these. Yet, his transgressions always seem to be swept under the carpet, somehow fading like ephemeral ghosts. I think too many people are struggling, trying to make a living, to pay enough attention.

I, too, am apolitical. As an editorial cartoonist, I will challenge any and all politicians.

By the way, Mr. Trudeau would not be happy with someone starting a fire in their fireplace with this newspaper. You know his stance on greenhouse gas emissions.

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Solid brick bungalow with sunny backyard perfect

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Community Calendar

SEPT. 7: Book Sale at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 904 Coxwell Ave., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Books, bargains, and breakfast! Over 4000 new and like-new books, curated rummage, raffles, and a pancake breakfast (pancakes, sausage, hash browns, maple syrup, plus orange juice, tea, or coffee) $8, $6 for kids under 12.

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., 1:30 p.m. Free for seniors over 65, $5 for everyone else. Featuring music by The Barons. Info: 416-465-0120 SEPT. 11: Scarborough Garden & Horticultural Society at Scarborough Village Recreation Centre, 3600 Kingston Rd., 7:30 p.m. “Growing The Romantics” with expert Joanna Blanchard. Free. Refreshments included. Guests welcome.

SEPT. 12: Beaches Sandbox Live Music: Jazz and Blues at 2181 Queen St. E., 8 p.m. International 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 mediation 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, and more! Proceeds raised go toward Centre programs. Fall senior programs and events begin Sept. 16. For more information on the Fall Community Fair please contact Jennifer, Special Events & Volunteers, at jennifer@centre55.com. Info: www.centre55.com

SEPT. 14: Councillor Fletcher’s Fall Community Environment Day near Bridgepoint Hospital (on Bridgepoint Dr. & Blue Rodeo Dr.), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: www. councillorpaulafletcher.ca/fall_2024_environment_day

SEPT. 14: Scarborough Garden & Horticultural Society at Scarborough Village Recreation Centre, 3600 Kingston Rd., 2-4 p.m. “Annual Flower Show”. Free. Guests welcome. SEPT. 15: Beaches Terry Fox Run at Woodbine Beach Park, 1675 Lake Shore Blvd. E., 9 a.m. Participants are welcome to join in anytime up to 1 p.m. Run is accessible for runners, walkers, cyclists, people using wheelchairs and people pushing strollers in either a five or a 10-km route along the Boardwalk into Ashbridges Bay Park. 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: Community Conversations with BeachesEast York MPP Mary-Margaret McMahon at Hope United Church, 2550 Danforth Ave., 6:30 p.m. This Healthcare Heart-to-Heart will be a panel discussion with experts from Michael Garron Hospital. RSVP appreciated (though not required) at mmmbey.com/ community-conversations-a-healthcare-heart-to-heart 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

SEP 17: Virtual or in-person recruitment event at Expedia Cruises East York, 2035 Danforth Ave., 4 p.m. Hosted by Corporate Hosts and Tony Lee. Early Retirees, housewives and so on are welcome. This event includes general questions and Q&A session. Reserve your seats by calling 647-351-6699 or https://forms.gle/PyFkbrmUMKEbKgu89

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 on our website: https://acousticharvest.ca Also with the alternate option to send an E-transfer to: acousticharvest@proton.me Tickets at the door: $40 cash only.

OCT. 4-6: Beach Guild of Fine Art Show and Sale at Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., Friday 5-8 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Celebrating 30 years in the Beach! OCT. 6: Run Myles Ahead 2024 at the Leuty Boathouse, Beach boardwalk, 10 a.m. Myles Ahead is a charity focused on preventing child and adolescent suicide by effecting systemic change. Registration: www.mylesahead.ca/ activities-events/ $50 ($25 w/o TShirt & family discounts) 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

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/ 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

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

CHURCHES

THE CHURCH OF ST. AIDAN (Anglican), 2423 Queen St. E., welcomes you to join us for Sunday worship at 8 a.m. (spoken service) and 10:30 a.m. (with music and children’s and youth programs). Nursery care for infants and toddlers is available during the 10:30 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. Info: www.staidansinthebeach.com, 416-691-2222

SEPT. 21: St Nick’s Market at St Nicholas Anglican Church,1512 Kingston Rd., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Start the Fall off right! Stop by St Nick’s church lawn to shop for delicious homemade meat pies, baked goods, frozen entrees, jams and preserves, plus beautiful handmade crafts. And take home a tasty lunch!

SEPT. 22: A Senior Moment luncheon at Pizzeria No.900 Beaches, 1987 Queen St. E., 1:30 p.m. To R.S.V.P., please text Colleen 647-829-8042. Visit us on Facebook.

SEP 24: In-person recruitment event at Expedia Cruises East York, 2035 Danforth Ave., 7 p.m. Host by Corporate Hosts and Tony Lee. Early Retirees, housewives and so on are welcome. This event includes general questions and Q&A session. Reserve your seats by calling 647351-6699 or https://forms.gle/PyFkbrmUMKEbKgu89

SEPT. 29: Rainbow Community Places Comedy Benefit at East End United, 310 Danforth Ave., 7:30 p.m. Host: Martha Chaves. Comedians: Rush Kazi, Elvira Kurt, Robert Watson, Peter Wildman, Kelly Zemnickis and more. A night of laughter in support of Rainbow Community Places and our Toby’s Place and Dorothy’s Place programs. Tickets & info: www.bbuc.ca

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/ FALLINGBROOK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 35 Wood Glen Rd. 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 info about Bible Study, Book Club, Tea Time, Hobby Circle, Wee Folks or Choir: fboffice@rogers. com, 416-699-3084, fallingbrookpresbyterianchurch.com 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 Code: 700 6901#. Info: www. grantame.com, grantamechurch@yahoo.ca, 416-690-5169 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. Join us Sept. 8 for Welcome Sunday. 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

In My Opinion

Beach on Sunday, Aug. 25, to raise awareness about accessibility on public beaches.

City needs to do more for all users of our beaches

‘Toronto’

from Page 6

despite information to the contrary on the city’s website.

The City of Toronto is obviously committed to providing amenities that make our beaches accessible. However, we believe as a city we need to do better. Beaches claiming to be accessible need to be truly accessible.

We learned that RHF could be a resource for the City of Toronto and about alternative sources of funding for accessibility initiatives.

For example, there are federal, and provincial grants available, and organizations such as the Trillium Foundation, that can help fund projects in the community. The city does not have to bear the entire burden of the cost, and a small investment in the right tools will have many benefits.

While it’s ultimately up to the City of Toronto to implement solutions, it is useful to learn from the successes of other cities.

In Toronto, beach mats made from hard plastic non-recycled HDPE plastic panels are the norm. We have not found these used in other cities.

Every other city and municipality that we know of is using purpose-built, recycled plastic mats that come in rolls. This latter type of mat is wide and porous, allowing sand to filter through, resulting in less maintenance. The mats have colour contrasting edges and lines down the middle making them easier to navigate for people with low vision, and the lines are tactile so that blind people can independently follow the mats. They provide a smooth surface for easy access for people in wheelchairs, and most extend fully into the water.

Here is a link to a heart-warming story

Letters to the Editor

Truck

about a Canadian seaside town that recently installed accessibility mats: www.rickhansen.com/news-stories/blog/parksvilles-waveinclusion

To arrive at the best and most effective solution we recommend the City of Toronto conduct focus groups that include members of the disability community.

Earlier this year TLC submitted a suggestion to the Standards and Program Development Department to assess alternatives, side by side with the current mats to arrive at an informed decision with appropriate public input. Let’s get this right.

According to RHF: “People with disabilities still face social and physical barriers that stop them from being a part of their communities. While we’ve made great strides towards creating an accessible and inclusive world, there’s still more work to be done”.

As Robert said, one small adaptation can make a huge difference in life.

We feel the same way, which is why our fundraising campaign was named The Ripple Effect Charity Swims. With every swim stroke we take, we imagine ripples of change.

For more information, please visit www. rickhansen.com email TLC at info@tlfcommunity.ca or visit or fundraiser page www. canadahelps.org/en/charities/rick-hansenfoundation/p2p/Ripple-Effect/ or find the link on our website www.tlfcommunity.ca.

All proceeds raised go directly to RHF general funds which support RHF initiatives across the country.

If you feel moved to do so please reach out to your city councillor to encourage positive change.

drivers need more training on how to share road with

I was recently struck by a large truck while riding my bicycle in the neighbourhood.

I spent three days in Michael Garron Hospital and am still enduring a painful recovery at home.

I would like to thank the citizens both on the sidewalk (who prevented the driver from leaving the scene) and the wonderful woman who took charge of the scene, called 911 and took the brunt of the truck driver’s vitriol.

Incidents like this show what our commu-

others

nity is about.

Thank you again to all the caring citizens who stood up and instead of taking videos, did the right thing.

This incident also shows that truck drivers need more training when it comes to sharing the road with vulnerable road users.

I have now committed myself to working to prevent others from having this life-threatening event happen to them.

Allan Stokell

PHOTO: SUBMITTED

Robert Hampson, in front of photo with his guide dog Kelly, joined the Toronto Lakefront Community swimmers on Kew-Balmy

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COME LEARN OUTSIDE!

Outdoor learning at the beach

Beach author Mary Ormsby tells the story of Ben Johnson, the ‘World’s Fastest Man’

By Deborah McNorgan

THE PARIS Olympics have ended but the sports scandals rage on, making a new book by Beach resident Mary Ormsby more timely than ever.

World’s Fastest Man* The Incredible Life of Ben Johnson tells the complete story of the Canadian athlete who on Sept. 24, 1988, won the 100-metre sprint in a world record 9.79 seconds at the Seoul Olympics – then lost it two days later after testing positive for steroid use.

Ormsby watched the saga unfold first-hand 36 years ago as a Toronto Star sports reporter in Seoul. She later spent a year covering the Dubin inquiry into the use of drugs and banned practices intended to increase athletic performance.

The documentary 9.79* inspired her to dig deeper into what happened to Johnson, who persuaded her to write

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the book she describes as a character study that’s part biography, part cold case.

“The book paints a picture that historical injustice occurred during that hearing in Seoul,” said Ormsby.

“If you’re a world anti-doping authority and you know or suspect historical injustice has occurred, and you do nothing about it, you’re enabling a system that is full of prejudice and discrimination.”

The 1988 sprint was described as “the dirtiest race in history,” with six of the eight competitors linked to doping.

Although Johnson later admitted to steroid use, the drug for which he tested positive was not the one he thought he was using. His drug screening was filled with irregularities and Olympic officials in Seoul withheld key evidence, circumstances that experts say denied him his right to due process and should have prevented his disqualification, according to the book.

“I’m hoping the reader will decide that this man was treated unfairly, and this case should be revisited,” said Ormsby.

“That’s quite separate from him later admitting that he used steroids…That complicates the story a little bit, but that’s what makes it such a compelling story, I think. Can you railroad a guilty man?”

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doodles and calculations and all kinds of things that could have been challenged during his hearing in Seoul.”

She wondered whether he had been denied due process.

“Was he afforded every chance to defend himself fully and properly? That’s not the same thing as endorsing his behaviour, which is separate. He was cheating, we know that, yes, but he also had the right to a full hearing, as an Olympian and as a Canadian.”

Ormsby said it was when she saw Johnson’s drug test and supporting documents that she realized: “Wow, there’s lots of these unsigned handwritten scribbles on his drug test, at least one place that an athlete’s code was crossed out and his was handwritten in; there were

Back then the media, herself included, didn’t challenge the International Olympic Committee or scientists the way they would today, said Ormsby, adding it wasn’t just the scandal but also Johnson’s personal story that fascinated her.

The book describes how

the young Jamaican-born Johnson became a sprinting superstar; and how the disgraced former athlete coached football star Diego Maradona and the son of a Libyan dictator while fighting to learn what happened in 1988.

Since that year, some things have improved in the world of sport, but much has not, said Ormsby.

“Ben helped push change for better testing, better protection for athletes’ rights and better independence of the process. However, nothing has changed in many ways…

“Here we are 36 years after the fact, and athletes, even going into Paris, were cheating, being caught, being sanctioned. The World Antidoping Association is

Continued on Page 11

PHOTO: SUBMITTED

Beach author Mary Ormsby with Ben Johnson and her book about the Canadian sprinter.

Johnson hopes book can help clear his name

‘Beach’ from Page 10

now feuding with American officials over tests involving Chinese swimmers. It’s getting really ugly. And it makes you wonder, what is happening? Will we ever rid sport of drugs? I’m not too sure we will. Maybe we need to amend the rules about what athletes use because they’re clearly still using a lot of drugs to get them through their training and into the elite level.”

There also seems to be a two-tiered level of justice, she said.

“If you happen to come from a powerful country that has officials that will go to bat for you, that’s hugely helpful. It’s the haves and have-nots in some way. It’s also important to point out that there are a lot of athletes out there who would never cheat. They are clean. And it’s really unfair to them when they see what is still happening: that you can have these performance-enhancing drugs in your system and some of those cheaters get punished, and some do not.”

While there are now rules regarding how athletes are given notice of allegations, and what the appeals process is, it’s time-consuming and expensive to pay for things like experts and accommodations for hearings, said Ormsby. And not everyone has their nation’s support.

Johnson was banned from competing for life and though he does individual training he is not allowed to coach anyone in Canada who belongs to an amateur sports body, which he said severely limits opportunities.

Johnson hopes the book will help clear his

name and fix what he sees as serious flaws in the system.

“I was the only guilty one that they chose to pick on and everybody else got off scotfree,” he said in an interview.

“I just want people to see me in a different light. I’m not going to take the blame for everybody else.”

Ormsby spent two years working on the book, much of it at the Beaches Branch Library.

She and Johnson still meet for breakfast at the Beacher Café on Queen Street East and he is routinely recognized, she said.

“If you walk down the street with him people will stop him. Even from their cars they’ll yell at him through the window ‘World’s Fastest Man!’”

Ormsby, a married mother of four, was born and raised in Scarborough, and she attended Senator O’Connor Catholic high school.

She played volleyball for The Ohio State University (OSU), graduated with a journalism degree, and is a member of the OSU Sports Hall of Fame. She played for the Canadian women’s junior and senior national volleyball teams.

From 1981 to 1985 she wrote for the Toronto Sun before moving to the Toronto Star, where she worked until 2020, in sports and on the investigative team. She was also a midmorning host on TheFan 590.

A Beach resident since 1996, she is a fivetime National Newspaper Award nominee. The World’s Fastest Man* is her first book.

Beacher Patricia Silver honoured with International Women Achievers Award

PATRICIA SILVER, who was the Beach Citizen of the Year 2010, was recently acknowledged by the International Women Achievers Awards 2024 for her contribution to arts and culture.

Based in Brampton, Ontario, IWAA honours exceptional women internationally. The ceremony underscores the paramount role played by women in society while appreciating their attitudes, initiatives, willpower, and perseverance.

Women honoured by the IWAA are those who have excelled in different spheres of life; who distinguished themselves as prominent citizens; and who displayed strong mettle and capability to perform well in any field of endeavour, and who made positive, significant changes in their communities. In her acceptance speech, Silver said, “the arts are the heart and soul of Canada. I encourage everyone to embrace their creativity. Join a

choir, pick up a paintbrush, go to a concert, visit a museum. Your life will be enriched by the experience.”

Silver is the co-founder of Canada’s premier a cappella festival SING! The Toronto International Vocal Arts Festival.

She is also an award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, talent agent, and author.

Silver has lived in the Beach with her family for more than 40 years.

PHOTO: SUBMITTED

Patricia Silver was recently honoured at the International Women Achievers Awards 2024.

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On The Wild Side

Sighting of dowitchers a highlight of the summer

ann Brokelman

is an avid birder and nature photographer naturephotosbyann.blogspot.ca

The summer has come and, as always, in a blink of an eye it’s on its way out.

I can’t really complain, though, as this has been a lovely season for me, full of many exciting views of hawks, birds, foxes, and grandchildren.

But the top highlights revolved around shorebirds.

Even after all my years of birdwatching, photography, and interest in nature, I’m still ‘discovering’ new wildlife neighbours.

I’d heard the name ‘dowitcher’ before, but for some reason it never stuck in my memory or caught my eye on a checklist of local birds, as something to see along the shores of Lake Ontario.

I’ve also probably seen them dozens of times but at a far distance.

I’d gone down to the lake with some friends, Peg, and

Shona, and were enjoying the swans, ducks, cormorants, and other waterfowl.

After a time, we noticed three birds, standing together and feeding along the shore, and I assumed they were sandpipers. Something about them seemed a bit off, however, so Shona took a picture on her phones and did a quick reverse-image search.

After a few seconds, the internet came through with an ID: short-billed dowitchers! Amazing how, only a few years ago, to have made a similar identification we would have had to have brought a sizeable picture book with us and hoped it contained a useful image to compare with what was in front of us.

As per my standard routine when finding a new animal, I went home and did some research that I’d like to share with you now.

The short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus, is a medium-sized, stocky bird with long bills. Well, they have long bills compared to

other shore birds of similar sizes. I’m sure if you asked a long-billed dowitcher it would tell you the shortbilled dowitcher has a rather…deficient…bill.

When hungry, the dowitchers will put enough of their head underwater to submerge their eyes and then walk along the shore poking and probing the ground for food.

While we watched the three along the lake for a while, and they were certainly eating something, we could never see exactly what they were pulling out of the water. According to All About Birds, they eat insects, larvae, crustaceans, marine worms, seeds of grasses, pondweeds, and bulrushes.

Short-billed dowitchers are ground nesters and typically have three-to-four eggs per clutch.

Both male and female parents take turns incubating the eggs over a stretch of about 21 days.

Unlike most birds I’m familiar with, after the eggs

hatch, the young will immediately leave the nest and look for their own food. The male parent will stay with the young, doing most of the work of protecting them, but neither parent will feed the chicks. They are also able to swim almost immediately and won’t shy away from the water.

I spoke with a few birder friends, who told me that the dowitchers have already started their migration south.

The ones around here will end up somewhere between Virginia and Florida, while the ones that nest in Alaska and British Columbia will spend their winters in California.

To see a new bird after all these years is always exciting, but to share the experience with my friends at the lake made it even better.

In recent weeks I’ve also seen many killdeer, and their babies, spotted sandpipers, least sandpipers, and even a Wilson’s Phalarope. Get outside soon, and you can also enjoy the start of

migration of songbirds, hawks, and monarchs and other butterflies. If you need help with an ID, just send me an email to abrokelman@gmail.com

PHOTO: ANN BROKELMAN

A pair of short-billed dowitchers spotted recently along the shore of Lake Ontario.

I

see

or

Captain Hawley Lane in Leslieville to be named in honour of local resident and firefighter William Hawley

LONGTIME TORONTO firefighter and Leslieville resident William Hawley is being honoured with the designation of a local laneway in his name.

Captain Hawley Lane is located east of Caroline Avenue running north from Eastern Avenue (northeast of the major intersection of Pape and Eastern avenues).

Now retired, Hawley served with the Toronto fire department for 35 years and according to his family is an avid reader of Beach Metro Community News

Remarkably, Hawley served his entire career as a Toronto firefighter at one station –Station 314 at 3 Grosvenor St. downtown.

According to the city report approving the naming of Captain Hawley Lane, the station was at one point the busiest in North America. Hawley retired from the Toronto fire department as a Captain. According to the report:

“After six weeks of training in 1972, Mr. Hawley spent three months on a Flying Squad, moving from station to station to round out his training. Mr. Hawley got his first permanent posting at the Toronto Fire Department Station 3 (now Station 314) in 1973. He spent his entire career at the same

station, which is rare for Toronto firefighters.

“Throughout his career, Mr. Hawley responded to 24,279 calls, all recorded in his logbook. All the calls he recorded helped provide direct emergency and lifesaving services to diverse communities. Mr. Hawley first served as an Acting Captain and was then appointed as Captain on July 22, 1993.

“Mr. Hawley’s twenty years of service earned him the Governor General of Canada’s Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal on May 27, 1993. He was later awarded a Bar to his medal for thirty years of service on August 14, 2003. Mr. Hawley retired on March 31, 2008. Mr. Hawley is well known in his community and has been involved in his community through many hockey leagues and fast pitch baseball. He joined the Toronto Fire Fighters War Veterans’ Association in 1990 and is a member of the Colour Party which processes flags in parades and community events. Mr. Hawley is also a member of Legion 1-42 (on Coxwell Avenue) and was involved with International Association of Fire Fighters and Local 3888.”

It is expected that formal dedication ceremony for the name of Captain Hawley Lane will take place sometime this fall.

William Hawley with his grandchildren as he celebrates his 75th birthday and the fact that Captain Hawley Lane in Leslieville will be named in his honour.

Aloha Toronto celebration on Balmy Beach

PHOTOS: ALAN SHACKLETON

Aloha Toronto, an annual surf therapy event that brings together community members in support of autism awareness and fundraising, took place on Sunday, Aug. 18, at the Balmy Beach Club. Participants enjoyed a barbecue, entertainment, paddleboarding, and a volleyball tourney that helped raise funds for the cause. Photo above, Kowshieek, left, shows the certificate he received for his paddleboarding skills from Aloha Toronto volunteer Geoff Ortiz. Photos below show paddleboarders on the lake and participants in the fundraising beach volleyball tourney.

Mortgage Renewal Looming?

PHOTO: SUBMITTED

The Main Gerrard Co-op celebrated its 50th anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 24. The event featured a number of activities, food and presentations. Resident Sandy Doyle (who has lived in the Main Gerrard Co-op for 50 years) is presented with an award by Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford at the celebration.

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

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Lisa Romano-Dwyer BSc,

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Bert van Delft

Complete financial

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

COUNSELLING

Catherine Allon, BSc, MEd Caring Counselling for Life & Relationship Issues 416-694-0232

www.energyawakening.com Spiritual Counselling

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.

QUINN Family Law

Shelley C. Quinn, LL.B., LL.M. (Family Law) 2 - 921 Kingston Rd. t. (416) 551-1025 www.QuinnFamilyLaw.ca

Janet D’Arcy DC, FRCCSS (C) Chiropractor Sports Injury Specialist 2455A Queen St. East 416 690-6257 Open Saturdays

September 9

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

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

Subscribe to our e-newsletter at beachmetro.com/mailchimp-subscription or visit beachmetro.com and click the

DR. JOYCE FU

Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Yoga Perinatal & Pediatric Wellness https://jfuchiropractic.janeapp.com/ 1755 Queen St. E. 647-271-9020

Neighbourhood Stops and Shops

Cube STEM Innovation Camps ignites curiosity and creativity in the next generation

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, equipping children with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills is more crucial than ever.

Cube STEM Innovation Camps, established in 2016, offers children an engaging and holistic approach to STEM education.

Initially based in the Upper Beaches, Cube STEM has recently relocated to Glen Manor Drive and Queen Street East, continuing its mission to inspire and empower young minds.

Although no longer the owner, the original founder Eren Fernandez remains actively involved, overseeing all programming at Cube STEM.

Fernandez’s vision is to help children understand that technology is not just a tool but a means to unlock their creativity.

“I find that to develop innovative minds, children need to be exposed to more than just the technical side of the industry,” explained Fernandez.

“They need to understand that the process starts with a pen and paper and their own creativity. That’s what makes them fall in love with STEM.”

At Cube STEM Innovation Camps, this philosophy is at the heart of their programming.

The camps provide a comprehensive approach to STEM, allowing the students to explore various fields, from video game coding and stop motion animation to Lego robotics and understanding AI engines such as ChatGPT.

“One of the primary focuses of our programs is to help children understand how technology can be used to benefit society,” said Fernandez.

This approach emphasizes the practical applications of technology, illustrating how innovations such as water purification systems and assistive devices such as prosthetics and hearing aids have positively impacted the world.

Toronto, a growing tech hub, is gaining global recognition as a competitor to Silicon Valley.

As Toronto continues to position itself as a leading market for STEM careers, Cube STEM is dedicated to preparing local youth for future opportunities.

Fernandez believes that introducing kids

to coding, robotics, and STEM from a young age is essential for their future success. These skills foster problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity—qualities valuable in any field.

Additionally, Cube STEM plans to expand its offerings into schools by 2025-2026, providing even broader access to STEM education.

Cube STEM Innovation Camps offers a variety of programs tailored to different age groups and interests.

Their summer and holiday camps provide children with the opportunity to develop their creative and innovative thinking through activities such as computational thinking, robotics, coding, and digital arts.

Cube STEM also offers after-school and weekend classes for children in Grades 1 and up, making it easy for parents to find and sign up for the program that best fits their child’s needs.

Beyond its educational camps and classes, Cube STEM’s sister company, IgniteTech Play, specializes in corporate team-building events using technology like robotics to bring teams together.

For example, IgniteTech has worked with Shopify Toronto to unite their teams through play, showcasing how tech-based activities can foster collaboration and creativity in a corporate setting.

As the holiday season approaches, it’s an excellent time for companies to explore these unique team-building experiences.

Fernandez and the team at Cube STEM Innovation Camps are dedicated to fostering a passion for technology and creativity in young learners through a holistic approach to STEM education and a commitment to preparing children for a future shaped by technology.

For more information about programs, promotions, and enrollment, contact Cube STEM and take the first step toward empowering the next generation of innovators. Cube STEM Innovation Camps is located in the Beaches Presbyterian Church at 65 Glen Manor Dr. Their website is https://cubestemcamps.ca

Young innovators at Cube STEM Innovation Camps prepare to dive into coding with Bloxels, creating and designing their own video games during the program’s summer camp.

Neighbourhood Stops and Shops

wellbe family wellness, a leading name in holistic health, has expanded its services to a new location in the Beach community, following the success of its original clinic in Leslieville, which opened in October 2019.

Founded by sisters Aliya and Sarina Visram, wellbe is dedicated to keeping families healthy and happy through a wide range of services performed by registered and regulated practitioners specializing in family health.

Just a few months after opening in Leslieville, they had to shut their doors due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Demonstrating resilience and adaptability, they quickly shifted their services to online offerings to continue meeting the needs of the community.

But, the business thrived, and the community around wellbe continued to grow. And as restrictions began to ease, the sisters and their wellbe team were overwhelmed by the drastic increase in post-lockdown patient need.

During pandemic lockdowns, there was a rise in reported mental health problems, often described as “a second pandemic.” This highlighted the urgent need for mental health services. In Toronto and around the world, people began reassessing their lives and happiness levels. This surge in demand for wellness services underscored the importance of wellbe’s mission.

“The feedback since we opened in Leslieville and now closing in on a year of being open in the Beaches has been amazing. Our patients are making it clear that we’re meeting a need that the neighbourhood had, and we’re really honoured and grateful to fill that space for them,” said Sarina.

wellbe was conceptualized out of a personal need. During Sarina’s maternity leave, she experienced chronic back pain alongside the physical and mental challenges of postpartum life. Regularly using her sister Aliya’s chiropractic services, they dreamed of a place where every family member could have all their wellness needs met under one roof.

In today’s fast-paced society, convenience is paramount, and the idea of bringing a child for their chiropractic pediatric appointment while also receiving Cesarean Scar Release Therapy or a deep-tissue massage resonated deeply with the sisters and within the community.

Sarina’s experience in business and marketing, combined with Aliya’s background in the wellness industry as a chiropractor and acupuncturist, guided them in this venture.

However, their greatest source of inspiration was their personal experiences, those of their friends, and those of their families. They knew what was needed and set out to create a space for people like them.

“We are committed to creating a positive wellness experience, offering services that

not only inspire patients but also empower them to grow and thrive—from the tiniest little humans to the parents and caregivers that nurture and raise them, and to you,” said Sarina.

Upon entering the wellbe Beaches location, patients are greeted by a bright, open, colourful, and welcoming space full of smiling faces. Patients can grab a drink from the waiting area’s tea station while their children play with some Montessori toys, making the space feel like home.

Patients can even bring a piece of the wellbe magic home with a selection of products and tools available for purchase, such as gua shas and ear seeds, used by practitioners during sessions.

Incredibly bright and playful murals designed by Toronto artist, Elise Goodhoofd, are proudly and boldly displayed throughout the wellness space. The facility boasts ten treatment rooms for various health services and a community room where the clinic hosts health and wellness workshops and classes. This space is also open to the community for use.

“Whatever needs our community has, we want to provide solutions,” said Aliya, highlighting that wellbe services go beyond their diverse selection of treatment-based care.

wellbe offers a wide range of services for all ages and needs, including acupuncture, chiropractic care, counselling and therapy, naturopathic medicine, osteopathy, pelvic health physiotherapy, orthopedic physiotherapy, registered massage therapy, shockwave therapy, scar release therapy, aesthetic medicine and holistic nutrition.

“Choosing our locations was definitely strategic. I worked as a chiropractor in Leslieville before we founded wellbe, and I fell in love with the neighbourhood,” said Aliya, emphasizing her connection to East Toronto communities where she feels a shared sense of her values of family and supporting local businesses.

“But, we (Sarina and I) found there weren’t many, if any, spaces like what we envisioned where such a wide range of wellness services could be accessed under one umbrella for everyone in the family. So we decided to do it ourselves.”

And, based on wellbe’s success, they’ve been doing it incredibly well. Under the leadership of Sarina and Aliya, wellbe family wellness, made up by an extraordinary team of passionate practitioners, continues its mission to meet the growing needs of families in Toronto and exists as a beacon of holistic health in the community dedicated to keeping families healthy and happy.

Visit wellbe family wellness online at www.hellowellbe.com/ or visit them at their Beaches clinic located at 1120 Kingston Rd., Unit 7.

Co-founders Aliya and Sarina Visram at their wellbe Beaches location, 1120 Kingston Rd, where their holistic health services continue to support and inspire families in the community.

Residents’ input on city’s renoviction bylaw sought

By Amarachi Amadike

AS CITY councillors await the much-anticipated staff reports on how Toronto can curb profit-driven evictions and secure housing affordability, the City of Toronto has announced public consultation meetings aimed at discussing ideas that will shape its renoviction bylaw.

There will be a total of seven meetings, two of which will take place in Toronto’s east end.

East Toronto residents will have the opportunity to share their opinions at the Wednesday, Sept. 4, meeting at the East York Civic Centre (850 Coxwell Ave) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Scarborough residents will also be able to voice concerns at the Sunday, Sept. 8, meeting which takes place at the Scarborough Civic Centre (150 Borough Dr) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

There will also be a city-wide online consultation meeting on Monday, Sept. 9, from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m for residents who cannot attend in-person.

“The City of Toronto is inviting residents to provide input on the implementation of a new renovictions bylaw modelled after successful initiatives in other cities across Canada,” stated an Aug. 28 press release from the City of Toronto.

Some argue that Toronto’s problem with renovictions intensified in 2018 after the then newly-elected provincial government put forward a legislation which granted newly constructed units, and units occupied for the first time, an exemption from restrictions to rent increases.

The aim of this legislation was to entice developers into building more homes by increasing their potential profit margin.

However, some landlords (at the expense of renters) capitalized on the legislation by proposing unnecessary renovations simply to evict current tenants in order to increase rental prices; subsequently inflating the market.

Earlier this year, Toronto Council directed city staff to look into Hamilton’s recent strategies to tackle unlawful renovictions.

In February, Councillors Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth), Parthi Kandavel (Scarborough Southwest), Mike Colle (EglintonLawrence), and Frances Nunziata (York South-Weston) submitted a proposal for city staff to look into methods that will address the renoviction issue.

Similar to Hamilton, Toronto’s proposed renovictions bylaw will mandate a renovation licence before landlords can start renovating. Landlords will also be required to prove that the property’s vacancy is essential for work to be done.

The proposed bylaw also suggests compensation or accommodation plans for tenants who are forced to vacate their homes.

Along with the East York and Scarborough meetings, there will be meetings held in Downtown Toronto on Sept. 13, Etobicoke (Etobicoke Civic Centre) on Sept. 7, North York (Memorial Community Hall) on Sept. 5, and Toronto’s west end (Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre) on Sept. 5.

Residents are also encouraged to share their experiences regarding renovictions via the online survey which will be available until Monday, Sept. 30, at www.toronto.ca/ community-people/housing-shelter/rentalhousing-tenant-information/understandfight-evictions/renovictions-bylaw-development/.

Open Doors: Spiritual Matters

gether, can make a huge difference to families displaced by war.

Come and meet an amazing group of regular people, who live in the Beach.

No! “Amazing regular people” is not an oxymoron.

The people are consultants, office administrators, retail workers, bankers, students, and retired individuals living in the Beach … but most of all, they care about others in the world. ‘Matter of fact, they call themselves The Beach Cares (TBC). And they do great things.

The occasion to meet these amazing people is a free concert at St. Aidan’s church on Saturday Sept. 21, starting at 7 p.m.

The Beach Cares began in 2015 when the Syrian refugee crisis hit the front page of newspapers around the world with the image of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, a Syrian child whose body washed up on a beach in Türkiye.

The group represents the congregations of St. Aidan’s and Beach United churches, and the Beach community at large.

They believed then, and now, that a group of people, working to-

The world’s refugee situation is staggering - 44.3 million at the end of 2023, according to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees.

In light of this, what difference could they make? Turns out that they can make a huge difference in the lives of at least some people.

Between 2016 and 2023, The Beach Cares sponsored three families and a young woman.

Family of five from Syria

At the end of January of 2024, a Syrian family of five, who had been stranded for eight years in a United Nations refugee camp in Lebanon, not far from the border with Israel, came to Canada, sponsored by The Beach Cares.

At times they had lived on grass, because there was so little food in their camp.

Even getting to the airport in Beirut was fraught, since Hezbollah was operating near the refugee camp and Israel had been shelling intermittently.

On their arrival in Canada, after more than 28 hours of travel with only a few snacks, they were famished. Their hunger became the

opportunity to encounter two Pizza Nova pizzas and cans of Canada Dry ginger ale at 11 p.m. that day. Maybe not the greatest feast, but welcome!

Since coming to Canada, the three young adults have been going to school, and attaining high grades in English and high school equivalency in mathematics and Canadian history.

The father and son have volunteered regularly at community meal programs at both Beach United and St. Aidan’s.

Meanwhile, the consequences of no dental care in refugee camps affected several members of the family, requiring root canals and dentures, not covered under the Government of Canada’s interim health plan.

The Beach Cares undertook to cover the costs because the pain in their teeth and gums affected both their health and well-being.

One volunteer has been central to lining up dentists and transporting the individuals to the appointments. The dental work is ongoing and has been supported by kind dental practitioners who provided their services at greatly reduced rates.

The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) pro-

The Beach Cares fundraiser in support of refugee family set for Sept. 21

gram, by which the family came to Canada, loaned the family the money for the flights from Beirut to Istanbul and Istanbul to Toronto, and now the loan has to be repaid.

The total cost is almost $10,000.

While The Beach Cares is not responsible for repaying it, we know that the family is in no position to repay this amount of money on top of paying rent, food and basic services, like public transit.

When The Beach Cares agreed to sponsor the family, it had raised most of the funds needed to support the family, according to IRCC’s minimum standards.

But the reality of dental care, travel refunds and setting people up to succeed after the sponsorship with “basics”, such as cell phones or computers for going to school, has pushed the group to do more “fun(d)-raising”.

Community support

To date, the Beach community has been tremendously generous in providing hospitality, clothing, furnishings, and finances.

The owner of the apartment where the family live agreed to take $300 less each month for rent, as her contribution.

The Beach Cares is just about

“there” in terms of having the funds to repay the travel and finish the basic dental work, but there is still an opportunity to celebrate the great work of regular folks in the community, meet the family… and raise the several thousand dollars that are still needed.

Evening of music on Sept. 21

Any extra money raised will go to help the family transition to independence once the formal sponsorship ends at the end of January 2025.

On Saturday Sept. 21, The Beach Cares is hosting an evening of music at St. Aidan’s (Queen Street East and Silverbirch Avenue) starting a 7 p.m.

The tunes will range from country and folk, rock, and, as a special treat, the family has agreed to sing a song in Arabic.

There is no cost for the concert; but donations will be welcome and can be made in cash, by cheque or square.

Oh, yes. And you will have the opportunity to meet some amazing regular people, members of The Beach Cares.

-- Michael Van Dusen is the Deacon at St. Aidan’s Anglican church and a co-chair of

michael Van dusen

St. Aidan’s in the Beach

Beaches-East York MPP

BEACHES-EAST YORK MPP Mary-Margaret McMahon will be hosting a Community Conversations event focussing on healthcare on Monday, Sept. 16.

The Healthcare Heart-to-Heart conversation takes place at Hope United Church, 2250 Danforth Ave. (northwest corner of Main Street and Danforth Avenue) starting at 6:30 p.m.

The event will take the form of a panel discussion with experts from Michael Garron Hospital in East York attending.

“I would love to see you there to hear about your experience with healthcare in BeachesEast York,” said McMahon in a news release about the Community Conversations event.

“I am so proud to have Michael Garron Hospital in our riding and I’m looking forward to learning more from the amazing physicians, staff, and leadership team during the panel discussion.”

Those attending the event will have the opportunity to pose questions to the panel.

Those who cannot attend the discussion in person, are invited to submit their questions in advance by going online to https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwjNGWVCdclDNshQf_U-tnvdezYtFc3F2bxXJVoS4c4AqDA/viewform

Questions can also be submitted through McMahon’s Instagram page at www.instagram.com/marymargaretbey

Those planning on attending are asked to RSVP in advance so organizers can have an estimate of the numbers attending. However, it is not required to RSVP to be able to attend the Sept. 16 event.

For more information, please go to McMahon’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ marymargaretbey or call her constituency office at 416-690-1032.

Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Night Light Walk slated for Thursday, Oct. 24 at Kew Gardens

THE ROYAL LePage Shelter Foundation Night Light Walk Toronto 2024 is set to take place at Kew Gardens in the Beach on Thursday, 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 include Beach Metro Community News, Coutts and Crane Barristers and Solicitors, Energia Athletics and Diamond Corp.

“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,” said Dunlop.

A longtime Beach resident, Dunlop 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 participants are asked to start gathering at 6:15 p.m. to hear inspiring stories from participants and the shelter partners.

For information on how to participate in the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Night Light Walk Toronto 2024, or on how to become a volunteer, please go to https://secure3.convio.net/rlsf/site/TR?fr_id=1240&pg=entry

Neighbourhood Stops and Shops

Mother and daughter-in-law duo bringing Oxygen Yoga & Fitness to the Beach

Oxygen Yoga & Fitness is set to open its doors on Queen Street East this fall, bringing a fresh and innovative fitness experience to the Beach.

This new venture is led by Linda Phillips and her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Shayna Rooney.

Both have been long-time devotees of Oxygen Yoga & Fitness (OYF), a brand they admire for its unique approach to fitness and holistic wellness. For years, Phillips and Rooney have been regulars at various OYF locations, drawn to the distinctive benefits of the infrared technology used in their classes.

The idea to open their own OYF location came about unexpectedly. After finishing a class one day, Phillips saw an email from OYF’s head office inviting members to consider franchising.

As they left the studio, Phillips turned to Rooney and asked, “Do you want to do it?” Rooney’s immediate response was, “Yes, I do.”

That simple exchange marked the beginning of their journey toward opening the next studio in the Beach, the most eastern OYF location in Toronto.

For Phillips, this decision was particularly meaningful. Approaching her 50th birthday, she found herself reflecting on her life and considering how she wanted to spend the next chapter. With a background in the corporate world and a family history filled with entrepreneurs, Phillips saw this opportunity as a chance to combine her business acumen with her passion for wellness.

Partnering with Rooney, who has a deep love for the Beach community, made the decision even more exciting.

Rooney’s connection to the east end began years ago when she first lived in the area. Later, she became a driver for Purolator, where she was thrilled to work in her favourite neighborhood again.

“I was always excited to drive through,” said Rooney. “It was one of my favourite routes, so when we (my fiancé and I) had the chance to move back, I was so excited to become a local again.”

She emphasized that partnering with Phillips to open the OYF studio in the Beach feels like a natural extension of that connection.

Since deciding to open their own franchise, Phillips and Rooney have been working closely with the team at OYF.

“It’s been a big undertaking, but the support from OYF has been incredible,” said Rooney. “It doesn’t feel like what people associate with franchises; it’s more like becoming part of a family.”

OYF, a woman-owned and operated company, was founded in British Columbia, Canada by Jen Hamilton in her garage. It has since

grown into a global brand, but it remains committed to its roots and to supporting its franchisees in a personal and hands-on way.

Both Phillips and Rooney were initially drawn to OYF because of its unique approach to fitness, which incorporates infrared technology to enhance workouts and promote overall wellness. Unlike traditional hot yoga studios that use steam to heat the room, OYF uses infrared heat, which penetrates the body and provides a deep, detoxifying sweat at the cellular level. This method not only improves physical performance but also offers a range of therapeutic benefits, such as reduced inflammation, improved circulation, and faster recovery times.

Beyond the physical benefits, Phillips and Rooney were also inspired by the organization’s mantra, “I love my life.”

This phrase resonated so deeply with Phillips that she had it tattooed on her wrist—a sentiment Rooney plans to honour with a matching tattoo in the near future.

For both women, OYF represents a commitment to mental and physical health, celebrating and loving oneself beyond just physical appearance.

As the opening day approaches, Phillips and Rooney have been overwhelmed by the positive response from the community. “

We don’t just want to be some random franchise,” explained Phillips. “It’s really important to us that we become part of the community.”

To that end, they have sourced products for the studio from local businesses, such as Living Lighting, and have been actively engaging with The Beach BIA to find ways to contribute to local events and be a positive resource for residents.

The new OYF studio will offer a variety of classes designed to cater to all fitness levels. Instructors are currently undergoing rigorous training to ensure they can guide members through the unique workout environment that OYF provides.

In anticipation of their grand opening, Phillips and Rooney are offering free classes and pre-opening discounts on memberships. Prospective members can sign up and learn more about the benefits and mission of OYF on the studio’s website at https://oxygenyogaandfitness.com/the-beaches.

Phillips and Rooney are excited to welcome new members and share their passion for wellness and the benefits they’ve experienced first-hand at Oxygen Yoga & Fitness.

Follow Oxygen Yoga & Fitness Beaches on Instagram for updates on their opening and special promotions. The studio is set to open at 1783 Queen St. E at the end of September.

Shayna Rooney, left, and Linda Phillips, right, stand outside their new Oxygen Yoga & Fitness studio on Queen Street East, eagerly preparing for the grand opening in the Beach.

Toronto Premier Gymnastics has 30-year

legacy of

excellence in East Toronto

Toronto Premier Gymnastics (TPG) has been a cornerstone of East Toronto’s athletic community since its founding in 1995 by Nancy Sherwin, a lifelong resident and passionate gymnastics advocate.

Sherwin, a former competitive gymnast who began coaching at just 16, brings a wealth of experience and a deep love for the sport to TPG, which is evident in the nurturing and holistic approach the gym takes toward training.

“I love gymnastics, I always have,” Sherwin shared, reflecting on her career. “I love watching students progress, whether it’s just in recreational skills or towards becoming high-level competitive athletes.”

Her sentiment showcases the heart of TPG, where every student is encouraged to develop their skills in an environment that balances empathy and strong leadership.

In an era where traditional gymnastics training methods are often criticized for their rigidity, TPG stands out by promoting a more holistic approach. Sherwin emphasizes that gymnastics is not just about physical prowess but also about building resilience, passion, and strong personal qualities.

“Gymnastics isn’t just about being able to do incredible things with your body; it’s all about resilience and strengthening passion and personalities,” she said. This perspective is essential in an industry that is evolving alongside shifting cultural norms and attitudes toward child training and development.

The benefits of structured physical activity in developing competence and resilience in children are well-documented. According to Dr. Jeffrey A. Martin’s study in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, structured routines foster discipline, perseverance, and time management—skills that are invaluable in both athletics and everyday life.

Sherwin and her co-coaches, Jolyan Child, a former national-level competitive athlete, and Aygul Memet, a former contortionist who performed on the global stage, combine this structured environment with supportive coaching, ensuring that children not only excel in gymnastics but also grow as individuals.

TPG operates out of two convenient East Toronto locations, Riverdale and Scarborough, both offering a range of programs tailored to different needs and skill levels. Whether you’re interested in recreational gymnastics, tumbling, trampoline, or competitive training, TPG has a program to fit.

For the young athlete with big dreams, the gym’s competitive power and tumbling teams offer advanced training, with notable successes such as Hayden Ashley, a Beach

resident who is nationally ranked.

TPG is excited to launch a Competitive Development Program this year at its Riverdale location in response to the growing interest in competitive gymnastics. This new initiative is designed to identify and nurture young athletes with competitive potential. The program includes focused skill development, regular assessments, and competitive opportunities, preparing participants for higher levels of competition and even post-secondary scholarships. This program is perfect for families hoping to see their children excel and perhaps even follow in the footsteps of Olympians like Simone Biles.

TPG welcomes children as young as woand-a-half years old to begin their gymnastics journey through the Parent and Tot tumbling program.

At age three, children can join group training sessions led by expert coaches. Recreational programs are available during the school year from Monday to Friday evenings and throughout the weekends. This schedule ensures that busy families can find a convenient time for their children to engage in gymnastics.

In addition to regular classes, TPG is reintroducing its popular birthday party services in September. After a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, these parties will once again offer an exciting mix of games, gymnastics activities, and skill-building sessions for $445. This is a fantastic way for families to celebrate special occasions while enjoying the fun and dynamic environment of the gym.

TPG is committed to its mission of teaching valuable life skills through gymnastics. Sherwin emphasized that true discipline is nurtured through respect and a genuine passion for the sport.

“Most importantly, gymnastics teaches essential lessons about perseverance, humility, and compassion,” she said.

Toronto Premier Gymnastics is a registered club with Gymnastics Ontario, ensuring that all children participating in their programs meet the highest standards of quality and safety.

For more information about TPG’s services, achievements, and to explore the various programs offered, visit their website at www. torontopremiergymnastics.com.

Whether you’re looking to start your child’s gymnastics journey or seeking advanced training, TPG provides an unparalleled environment where young athletes can thrive and develop into confident, skilled individuals.

Coach and founder of Toronto Premier Gymnastics, Nancy Sherwin, supports one her students on the bar at TPG’s Birchmount location.

Exquisite Penthouse Living in The Beach:

A Masterpiece of Luxury and Sophistication

Welcome to 200 Woodbine Ave. Suite 601

Step into a world of sophistication with this stunning two-storey, 3 Bedroom, 5 Bathroom corner penthouse in Toronto’s coveted Beach neighbourhood. Spanning approximately 3,700 sq ft of meticulously designed interior space and complemented by 2,300 sq ft of private terraces, this residence offers breathtaking views of Lake Ontario and the city skyline.

The grand foyer, with its soaring 20-foot ceiling and striking architectural staircase, sets the tone for the elegance within. The open-concept main floor is bathed in natural light, featuring a gourmet chef’s kitchen with top-of-the-line Miele appliances and custom cabinetry.

The luxurious primary suite is a serene retreat with a double-sided fireplace, spa-like ensuite, and access to a private terrace. Additional bedrooms offer their own ensuites and terrace access, providing privacy and comfort for family or guests.

The upper level is an entertainer’s dream, with a rooftop terrace that includes a custom outdoor kitchen, firepit, hot tub, and zen garden, perfect for both relaxation and hosting unforgettable gatherings.

Complete with 2 car parking and a private storage room, this penthouse offers the ideal blend of convivence, urban excitement and tranquil living. All this, while you indulge in the privacy and exclusivity that this remarkable residence uniquely affords. Contact me for your private showing.

Ashleigh Lyall MCNE®, ABR®, SRES®, SRS® Sales Representative

Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd.

Direct: 416-358-3313

Office: 416-699-9292

www.realestateinthe6ix.com

https://www.facebook.com/RealEstateInThe6IX

“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

Wshing everyone a safe & happy school year.

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Home Decor

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THE STUDY STUDIO

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Educational services include screening and assessment, consultation, advocacy, and tutoring. (13)

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BEACH PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

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416-414-5883 info@blpm.ca (12r)

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BEACHES BLUFFS LANDSCAPING

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Scotstone

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BEACH LAWNS

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PROWAY

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NEIGHBOURHOOD PLUMBING

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O O D G L E N R O A D

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