HH 6#2 Summer 2013

HUMBER HAPPENINGS A Community Publication by the Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association

Summer 2013

HOMEGROWN

FRESHNESS Ontario farmers bring their produce to Humber Bay Shores.

FAMILY DINING

Fresh Italian, international cuisine.

NO MORE GARBAGE!

17th annual clean-up a success.

ROYAL POOCHES

Day care with a touch of home.

in this issue

HUMBER HAPPENINGS A Community Publication by the Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association

A Community Publication by the Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association

Features 10 Family dining at Rocco’s

Ani and David Imastounian bring an array of Italian and international dishes to HBS.

11 A love for dogs

Chateau Pooch provides a caring, comfortable place for all your pup’s needs.

15

12 Friends, laughs, good times Connecting People With People offers a warm, fun and engaging environment.

14 Working together

Humber Bay Shores residents gathered to clean up their community on May 25.

15 Farmers’ Market arrives

Humber Bay Shores welcomed its own Market to the community on June 1.

our community 6

president’s message

8

news & Events

©Stan Wojick

Keeping the community vibrant and clean

City to review Mimico Go relocation, Butterfly Habitat looks for volunteers.

columns

8

4

Welcome

By Andrew Ardizzi

20 Winesights

By John Switzer

22

22 Ask Dr. Ghazi

By Dr. Farzad Ghazi

24 vitality to the core

By Guy Dafour

HUMBER HAPPENINGS A Community Publication by the Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association

On the Cover: Cover photo by Stan Wojick

Summer 2013

Stan Wojick is a retired Federal Public Servant. He Lives in the Humber Bay Community. His interests are wildlife, travel photography and acousitc music. His photos can be seen at his website: www.pbase.com/stanwojick

HOMEGROWN

FRESHNESS Ontario farmers bring their produce to Humber Bay Shores.

FAMILY DINING

Fresh Italian, international cuisine.

NO MORE GARBAGE!

17th annual clean-up a success.

ROYAL POOCHES

25 Development

By Alyssa Trivelli

26 Councillor’s Corner

By Councillor Mark Grimes

28 Hill Happenings

By MP Bernard Trottier

Day care with a touch of home.

Other cover photos, from left: Ani Imastounian of Rocco Restaurant & Bar; residents of HBS participate in Clean-Up Day; Lucy Lopes, owner of Chateau Pooch.

30 BROTEN BULLETIN

By MPP Laurel Broten

Humber Happenings I Summer 2013 3

HUMBER HAPPENINGS

Welcome

Year-round volunteers Taking care of the community on a daily basis. by andrew ardizzi

H

ow a community responds to a call to action speaks volumes about its cohesiveness. Considering the strong community turnout for the annual Humber Bay Shores cleanup day on May 25, I would say the bonds that tie Humber Bay Shores are strong and healthy. I just want to congratulate everyone who particpated in the event for a job well done, as well as the organizers who put on a strong event.

With that said, the effort shouldn’t end at 12:01 p.m., after you’ve put down your garbage pickers, returned your bags of trash and sat down for lunch. Taking care of your community should be routine, and not simply left for a single day every year where you decide to set time aside to tidy up the environment around you. Much like doing the dishes, if you leave it too long a 20-minute chore becomes a two hour expedition. Take a moment every day to pick up a water bottle, a coffee cup, or whatever you may come across and put it where it belongs.

I can’t help but feel there are people living inside the Humber Bay Shores community who are living that “every day mentality” right at this very moment, and I’d welcome the chance to learn about them. If you know of someone who’s active in the community, their school, or has done something truly remarkable, please feel free to drop us an email and tell us about them. I’m really looking forward to reading your stories.

As for what’s going on in the community, the Farmers’ Market is now running every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Oct. 12. The Waterfront Festival is quickly approaching on Aug. 9, while the annual HBS golf tournament is taking place Sept. 13. There’s no shortage of events going on around Humber Bay Shores, so get out there and enjoy the summer! HH

Take a moment every day to pick up a water bottle, or a coffee cup.

4 HumberHappenings.ca

Andrew Ardizzi is the editor of Humber Happenings and can be reached by email at humberhappenings@mediamatters.ca or by phone at 905-370-0101.

Summer Issue 2013

Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association Board of Directors President Jim Reekie, Palace Place Vice President Don Henderson, Bal Harbour Treasurer Jay Perry, Nevis Secretary Tom Arkay, Palace Pier Past President Judi Richter-Jacobs, Players Club Director Laura Nash, Marina del Rey Phase III Director Bill Scott, Hearthstone Director Alex Smyth, Players Club Director Horst Richtor, Marina del Rey Phase II Director Wayne Lackey, Grenadier Landing Director Jim Fachnie, Waterford Director Clayton Scott, Marina del Rey Phase I Director Brian Stevens, Voyager I & II Director Paul Schouw, Grand Harbour Director Kathryn Winter, Grand Harbour Strategic Planning Initiative Coordinators Planning & Infrastructure Jim Reekie Building Community Sharon Jazzar Communications & Outreach Jay Perry Email Board Members at hbscaboard@rogers.com Humber Happenings produced by Editor Andrew Ardizzi Art Director Daniela Luberto Writers Laurel Broten, Jim Lord, Mark Grimes, Jim Reekie, John Switzer, Bernard Trottier Interns Abigail Cohoe Advertising Jay Perry 416-587-1748 /jayperry@a-b-c-inc.com Media Matters Inc. President Darryl Simmons General Manager Ryan Potts VP Industry Relations Gloria Mann Editorial Director Mike Davey

Media Matters Inc. 645 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 3T6 t. (905) 370-0101 f. (866) 868-7072 e. humberhappenings@mediamatters.ca Humber Happenings is published four times a year.

Volume 6 Issue 2

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Kothur Indian Cuisine 649 Yonge St. 416-926-0953

Humber Happenings I Summer 2013 5

PRESIDENT’S message

Our community Working together to ensure HBS remains a lively, vibrant, safe and beautiful place throughout the summer months.

by Jim Reekie

T

he Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association works hard to ensure that Humber Bay Shores is a great and safe place to live and work. We need to continue working together to keep it clean and

6 HumberHappenings.ca

inviting for the entire community.

With summer approaching, we’re starting to see a lot more cyclists riding along the pathway. While most riders are safe, not all of them respect the pedestrians who share the paths with them. We hope riders will be mindful

of their surroundings, and ask that each of you please be careful when walking with your children and your pets along the lakeside park area.

Speaking of pet owners, I just wanted to remind everyone that a new off-leash area was recently installed on the east

presidents message side of the Humber River. It’s a great location, so let’s make use of it. We have another off-leash area in Humber Bay Park West, and we’re working on another small off-leash area on the north east corner of Lake Shore Boulevard West and Brookers Lane. Please remember though that the larger community is not an off-leash area. Please be mindful that not all residents have pets and may be intimidated by yours. Always keep your pet on a leash.

Community Events We’re very happy to have brought a Farmers’ Market to Humber Bay Shores. Now running for several weeks, the Market has brought a new, wonderful element to our area. We have a great variety of vendors taking part, many of whom are local farmers. We’re very excited to bring this to the community, as it provides the neighbourhood with a way to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, beverages, flowers and

baked goods. Our Farmers’ Market is running every Saturday until Oct. 12, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., and is locat-

The Market has brought a new, wonderful element to our area.

ed in Humber Bay Park West. Later in the summer, don’t forgot that we’ll also be holding our annual golf tournament.

More details to follow.

Transportation and Traffic We’ve had ongoing issues with the traffic lights at the street tunnel. The Traffic Department is working on this.

With new construction beginning on Park Lawn, expect northbound and southbound traffic delays. Be cautious, safe and aware as you’re driving.

Discussions are ongoing about moving the Humber streetcar loop to Park Lawn and Lake Shore. We’re also expecting a new bus shelter to be going in at 3 Marine Parade Dr. later this year.

On the south side of Brookers Lane to Marine Parade Drive there is going to be a Village Courtyard. We have seen the preliminary drawings and have recommended some changes and sent them back to the Planning Department. We will keep you up to date. HH Jim is presently the HBSCA president and has served on the board since 2004. He is retired from a career working in the Toronto District School Board.

Humber Happenings I Summer 2013 7

news & events

City to review possible relocation of Mimico Go station The City has motioned to further review the relocation of the Mimico Go station eastward towards Park Lawn Avenue.

During the City Planning and Growth meeting on May 16, 2013, the committee agreed to move forward in reviewing the viability of moving the Go station currently located near Royal York Road and Judson Street.

Moving the pre-existing Go station in Mimico would help alleviate public transit issues facing the Humber Bay Shores community, a long-standing concern for the neighbourhood.

The review follows an initial report from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning on April 23, 2013. As part of the review, Ward 6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore Councillor Mark Grimes collected emails from residents from both the Mimico and Humber Bay communities and presented them at the May 16 meeting.

Reactions to the potential move of the station were mixed, with Mimico and HBS residents split over the motion.

“We are interested in whether any consideration is being given to moving the station to Legion Road. That would be ideal for the growing population around Park Lawn, Lake Shore and Manitoba,” Lou and Despina Chabot wrote to Councillor Grimes in an email.

The perspective is a little different in Mimico, where residents are concerned about how the move will affect their commute times.

MIMICO

“I would urge you to reconsider (moving the station). One of the reasons for living in this area is access to downtown via the Go train,” Mimico resident Pauline Upton said in an email to Grimes. “Hundreds of people live in this area because we have a Go Train station within walking distance. It doesn’t make sense to move it to accommodate new condo owners who didn’t move to this area because of accessibility to the Go Trains.”

Chris Kirkpatrick, also a resident of Mimico, took more a tempered approach.

“While I strongly support the construction of a new Go station in the Humber Bay Shores neighbourhood, removing the Mimico Go station is not the way to accomplish this,” Kirkpatrick told Grimes in an email.

Councillor Grimes himself was uncertain of what led the committee to arrive at their decision, and would prefer to satisfy both communities’ transit concerns.

“I was taken aback by Councillor Milczyn’s motion as there was no consultation with myself or the local community,” Grimes says. “I’m not in favour of moving the station only to displace transit issues from one community to another. I do, however, support adding a second station in the Park Lawn area.”

Councillor Milczyn could not be reached for comment as of press time.

CRUISING

CLUB

I

magine enjoying lunch or dinner overlooking our fabulous harbour with family and friends, or a relaxing dockside picnic.

A limited number of social memberships are currently available in our Club. The beautiful clubhouse and grounds are Humber Bay’s best kept secret.

For enquiries we invite you to contact our Membership Director at 416-252-7737 or gm@mimicocruisingclub.com.

AN OASIS IN THE CITY. MCC H H half page.indd 1

8 HumberHappenings.ca

03/22/2013 10:25:57 AM

news & Events

Events, Fun and More!

Humber Bay Butterfly Habitat needs volunteers

June 1 - Oct. 12, 2013: The HBSCA Farmers’ Market will be running every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m..

The Humber Bay Butterfly Habitat team is looking for stewards to join their conservatory efforts to maintain the community’s butterfly site.

The conservation team meets every Wednesday between May 8, and Labour Day from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..

Volunteer efforts consist of weeding out non-native plant life, maintaining native vegetation, mulching, planting, collecting litter and monitoring water quality and pollinators.

All equipment is provided, and volunteers are trained on-site.

For more information, or if you’re interested in joining the Humber Bay Butterfly Habitat team, please contact Peg Thoen at pegthoen@gmail.com.

July 9, 2013: Eden Trattoria is holding its annual golf tournament in support of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation at Royal Woodbine Golf Club at 1 p.m. Stop by Eden for details.

July 27 - 28 and Aug. 2 - 4, 2013: Shakespeare in the Park at Montgomery’s Inn. Advance tickets available. Call 416-209-2026 for more information.

Aug. 9, 2013: The Waterfront Festival returns this summer.

It will feature live music, talent demonstrations, food and tons of activities for the kids!

Sept. 13, 2013: Come out and join your neighbours on the fairway for HBSCA’s annual golf tournament.

Sept. 28 - 29, 2013: The HBSCA putting contest is set for late September. It’s open to condo corporation representatives.

Your Community is Our Passion.

Are you a Condo Board Member that feels your Community should receive better attention and care?

Do you feel too involved with the day to day management?

Do you feel you can get better value out of your current maintenance fee?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, please call Scott Newhouse, President at 905-845-2020 ext.102 or scott@harmonymgmt.ca.

Harmony Management is a boutique condominium management firm specializing in great condominium communities.

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Humber Happenings I Summer 2013

9

taste of humber

Homecooking with Rocco’s serves fine dining with a personal touch.

care

by Andrew Ardizzi

A

couple walks up to the restaurant with their two-year-old son. From behind the bar, Ani Imastounian, co-manager of Rocco Restaurant and Bar, smiles as they approach, pointing out that she’s known the couple for four years and has been happy to see their little boy grow since he was born. As they walk in, Ani steps out from behind the bar and greets them with a warm smile and a hug as though they were family.

“I have good conversations with each customer. I think it’s important to have those interactions,” Imastounian says.

“My customers, to me, become like family. It’s like inviting people into my home and giving them good food.”

Open since 2009, Rocco Restaurant and Bar is a family-owned and operated restaurant. Ani runs the business with her brother, David Imastounian, and together they aim to provide a welcoming,

Rocco’s also serves a wide array of delectable desserts and wine.

10 HumberHappenings.ca

Clockwise from left: Dave, Scott, Mary and Bob Sage enjoy a warm, fresh meal at Rocco’s.

home-like atmosphere anchored by fine, fresh Italian dining with a little international flair. The freshness of their meals, though, is especially important to them.

“The fruits and vegetables are bought fresh from farmers nearly every day, strictly wholesale from the Food Terminal,” David says, adding that they personally pick out the produce for their dishes.

He says they go as early as possible to ensure they can pick the ripest fruits and vegetables, in addition to buying the restaurant’s fish and meats wholesale in manageable quantities every day too. No food is ever stored overnight, ensuring each meal is truly a fresh experience.

Their passion for running a restaurant drives them to go several extra kilometres for their customers.

“There are a lot of corporations around and to be one-on-one with customers is quite rare,” he says. “If customers are happy, I feel great. That’s what motivates you the next morning.”

It’s truly energizing for them to look at the faces of their customers and see they’re enjoying their meals and are having a good time during each visit.

“That feeling you get with good food, when you see it on their faces and they go ‘mmmm,’ makes me feel good,” Ani says.

Impeccable customer service is important to them, and that’s evident as Ani walks over to the Sage family, who routinely eat brunch at Rocco’s, and serves their meals before returning shortly thereafter to offer pepper for their dishes.

“The service is always friendly, and the food is always great,” says Dave Sage, who along with his twin brother Scott routinely dines at Rocco’s with their retired parents, Bob and Mary.

The elder Sages are regulars at Rocco’s and praise the total dining experience.

“The service is good, the price is right.

What more can you ask?” says Bob Sage.

Good fresh food, live music and a warm, inviting atmosphere lay at the heart of Rocco’s, complemented by a personal touch that restaurant chains may lack. Ani and David treat their customers like extendLinguini ed family, adding an Pescatore, extra dash of care a favourite dish at Rocco’s. with each meal.

“We know many of our customers by name,” she says. “We want them to feel at home.” HH

humber focus

A château away from home The Rolls-Royce of doggie day care, in the heart of HBS.

by Andrew Ardizzi

F

inding a truly caring environment for your pets isn’t easy.

Who would you trust with the furry love of your life?

Lucy Lopes, owner of Chateau Pooch, always asked herself that whenever she looked for a place to board her two-and-a-half year old pup, Zoe. “I had to board Zoe at another facility that I wasn’t very happy with,” says Lopes. “I just thought that there had to be a better place to leave a pet that you feel is more of a home environment. And that’s what I strived for.”

Lopes puts herself in the shoes of other pet owners, simply asking herself what she would want in a facility.

“We all have a passion for dogs. We’re always playing with them, some of them like to be cuddled,” she says. “It’s more of a homey environment, and it’s as if they were our own pets.”

Lopes left a 25-year long career as a health care professional to found Chateau Pooch in January 2013. The business boasts an array of services including hourly, half-day and full day care, as well as full day and overnight boarding.

Grooming services include baths, ear cleanings, nails and full grooming.

Dogs at Chateau Pooch aren’t boarded in the traditional sense.

“Our pets don’t stay in cages, we have 4 ft. by 5 ft. suites designed for them. We have eight suites that pets can sleep in,” says Lopes. The suites are comfortable and include an actual bed, but dog-sized.

Pets are able to roam freely if they choose, rest on any number of the provided dog beds or cozy up next to the fireplace. The business employs four staff, in addition to the grooming team, while someone is always there with the dogs.

Chateau Pooch also sports cameras at different locations inside the suite area that allow owners to check in on their pets using a computer or smartphone.

“Wherever they are, someone can see their pet. We thought it was important,” says Lopes. “As a pet owner myself, if I had that option to check in on my pet when I’m away, I would feel more secure.”

Lopes says she’s glad she has met so many different people and their favourite companions. Heather Kidd entrusts her pup, Tuli, to Lopes five days a week and says the experience has been positive.

“I think the actual detail to personal care is impeccable. The size of the facility and the level of care provided is outstanding,” says Kidd. “The stress of thinking about my pup’s wellbeing and worrying about leaving work and rushing home is totally alleviated.”

Kidd takes advantage of Chateau Pooch’s day care services, in addition to their dog grooming service. After visiting other facilities, she feels Chateau Pooch has certain advantages over other dog care services.

“The location is awesome for pets, being by the lake,” she says. “I’ve been to others, and this one is kind of like the

Playful Rollie loves chasing his ball.

Rolls-Royce of doggie day care.”

Glenda Staddon, who brings Digger, her nine-year-old golden retriever, to Chateau Pooch all the way from Willowdale, echoes Kidd’s appreciation for Lopes’ facility and her work with the animals in her care.

“She goes above and beyond. Lucy treats everybody like gold,” says Staddon.

“She’s fantastic, friendly, accommodating and very helpful. She feels just like family. It feels good to have no guilt when you leave your dog in her care.”

A love for animals is the driving force behind Chateau Pooch.

“A huge motivation for me is the pleasure I get from having the pets come in and then seeing how happy they are playing together. It’s great that we can be here for them,” says Lopes. “I enjoy every aspect of the job. It’s just being around the dogs, being there for them; it’s a rewarding, great feeling. This is where my heart is.” HH

Lucy Lopes, owner of Chateau Pooch, with two of her furry friends.

Circle, top left: Any pup staying at Chateau Pooch gets entered into its “Paws of Fame.”

Circle, bottom: Beds fit for puppy royalty.

Humber Happenings I Summer 2013 11

Community Bonding

Connecting People With People brings HBS residents closer one event at a time.

by andrew ardizzi

C

onnecting People With People (CPWP) began in 2010 as a small group of friends in the Humber Bay Shores community who shared similar interests. They would gather monthly for social meetings, in addition to taking part in a host of social events organized by Helena Vrachotas, President of CPWP. Three years later, Vrachotas is pleased by

the group’s growth, which now exceeds 300 members and continues to grow.

“It allows for people to meet and make social connections,” says Vrachotas. “Our members make new personal and business contacts all the time.”

CPWP is composed of two main groups – a singles group and a women’s group. It is a multi-functioning network that brings individuals together and allows them to partake in monthly meetings with guest speakers,

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I know the neighbourhood.

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12 HumberHappenings.ca

participate in group functions, as well as make business connections that reacquaint old friends and integrates them with new ones to create a diverse membership.

The group also offers its members access to an ever-growing directory of businesses promoted on the website, complemented by a range of guest speakers that in the past have included nutritionists, culinary experts, financial advisors, fitness experts and naturopaths. It’s a mutually beneficial dynamic for both guests and members.

“Every time a speaker comes in, they are expanding their own network,” she says. “People are connecting all the time.”

Susan Fox, Managing Director at Creative Links, is an original member of CPWP and feels its diversity creates a fun, nurturing environment to build networks.

“There’s a real warmth, camaraderie and acceptance. As society is a bit disconnected, this helps us connect with one another on an ongoing basis,” she says.

Fox, a member of both the singles and women’s groups, has in the past led a

©iStockphoto.com/Jacob Wackerhausen

Feature meditation-centric group meeting. She says it’s a great way to bond, meet new people and promote each other.

“It’s a community of caring and sharing combined with the ability to build our own networks through meeting new people,” says Fox, who picked up clients from her experience leading a group meeting.

Peter Kozyriackyj, owner of Plumbers Direct and member of the singles group, says he enjoys the monthly meetings.

“I find them educational, interesting and fun,” he says. “It’s a good social group of people, I have made a number of business contacts from the group.”

Jill Hollingsworth, owner of Salsa Dance Productions, recently led a meeting of her own, treating members to the finer points of Salsa dancing. She appreciates her opportunity to join the group, feeling it offers a friendly and inviting atmopshere.

“CPWP is a diverse group of people with interesting backgrounds and talents. It is usually difficult to get people to participate in ‘Salsa dance lessons,’ but not with this group,” Hollingsworth says.

“The dance floor was alive with laughter, energy and pulsating activity. It was a fun evening with great people.”

Vrachotas says being part of such a lively, fun atmosphere helps bring people out of their shells, affording them the chance to take part in activities they wouldn’t otherwise immerse themselves in.

“Many single people don’t like doing things alone, and CPWP gives them the opportunity to do things with others,”

she says of CPWP’s social events.

With Humber Bay Shores’ population ever-growing, Vrachotas looks forward to CPWP’s expansion as more new faces move into the community. Even still, the network’s mission is unlikely to deviate from its core purpose: people meeting people, expanding their circle of friends, making business connections, gaining knowledge, enjoying educational speakers and sharing in fun, good times. HH

Sailing & Powerboating Centre

SAIL INTO SUMMER The Humber Sailing & Powerboating Centre offers certified and professional sailing and powerboating lessons on Toronto's beautiful Humber Bay, Lake Ontario.

To learn more or register contact us at 416-252-7291 • sailing@humber.ca • humber.ca/sailing Humber Happenings I Summer 2013 13

clean-up day

Community Clean-Up

eans up!

Thuy Pham cl

HBS tidies up the environment at the 17th annual clean-up day.

Sue Chong has volunteered the last five years.

by andrew ardizzi

N

early 160 Humber Bay Shores residents gathered for the 17th annual spring clean-up at Humber Bay Park on May 25, and much like past years, the 2013 event surpassed organizers’ expectations.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic that more people were committed to coming out,” says Sharon Jazzar, organizer of the 2013 clean-up. “I’m so pleased with the enthusiasm that people displayed.”

More volunteers pitched in than ever before for the 2013 event, which Jazzar says led to over 100 bags of garbage being collected. She was very happy with the results, but was particularly excited about the latest addition to their clean-up: cigarette butt collection.

“People were really enthusiastic about the fact that you could recycle the butts,” she says.

Altogether, 14 sandwich bags full of cigarette butts were collected, all of which will be sent to TerraCycle, a Toronto-based recycling company. From there they will be recycled and used to make plastic shipping palettes.

Thuy Pham, a resident of Voyageur and clean-up day veteran, was motivated by the positive turnout and truly appreciates the heart of their efforts.

“You’re meeting your neighbours and everyone is working together to make sure the neighbourhood is clean,” she says. “It’s a great thing.”

Sue Chong, a resident of Player’s Club, especially enjoys clean-up day as a community building experience.

“I love this. This is the fifth year I’ve done this,” says Chong. “Rain or shine, it’s a lot of fun. It really makes it feel like a community.”

While the day began with coffee and donuts provided by Steve’s Park Lawn Esso, the event ended with a barbecue lunch at Mimico Cruising Club. Participants gathered once more at the Club to enjoy good food and better company, while Jazzar congratulated each of them for their efforts, hard work and dedication.

“I personally am grateful to the people in the community,” Jazzar says. “The generousity of the people to donate their time to come out and pick up garbage is really inspiring.” HH 14 HumberHappenings.ca

The G. Edick & Sons landscaping crew pitch in.

r, Georgina Bob Gauthie eir part. th do er Rimm

Sharon Jazzar organized the 17th annual clean-up.

thered for Particpants ga lunch. up a post clean-

Jim Edick lead s

his crew.

John Bryan works to keep the area beautiful.

The HBS com munity gather ed to tidy up the shoreline.

HBSCA’s Jim Reekie.

cover story Sun-Ray Orchards’ Larry Short and his family bring fresh produce and baked goods to the HBS Farmers’ Market.

From their Family toYours Local farmers bring freshly grown foods to HBS.

©Stan Wojick

by Andrew Ardizzi

T

here’s something impersonal about walking into your local grocery store and buying produce that’s been transported great distances and then placed neatly by a clerk whose name you’ll never know. It’s much of the same as you pay for your food, and before long you’re on your way with your Chilean apples in tow.

It wasn’t always this way, as there was a time when we bought our foods fresh from local farmers who depended on their customers for their livelihood. With their resurgence, Farmers’ Markets offer the chance for consumers to reconnect with the source of their fruits and vegetables, while supporting local Ontario farmers.

“The people who come here want to support the local farmers,” says Sun-Ray

Orchards president Larry Short during the first day of HBS’ Farmers’ Market.

The HBS Farmers’ Market kicked off on June 1, 2013 and will continue running every Saturday until Oct. 12, 2013.

The Market features a wide array of goods including fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, cheeses, honey-based products, meats and floral shops.

Short says when his dad – Raymond – ran the company, they always took part in Farmers’ Markets. With their resurgence in recent years, he’s happy to take part in them once more and welcomes the chance to interact with the Humber Bay Shores community.

“It’s been great watching the interactions between the customers and my kids,” says Short, who was joined by two of his daughters on the Market’s first day. “Being

here with the family is really nice.”

Short’s Beamsville, Ontario-based family farm produces a mixed variety of fruits and vegetables across their 225 acres of land. On the Market’s first day they brought an array of fruits and vegetables, notably their award-winning raspberries. They also brought along some freshly baked treats made from the fruits grown on their own farm.

“When you take something and make it into something else, it’s really encouraging to see the positive reactions from customers,” he says of the homemade pies and jams they also have available for purchase every Saturday. “People come to us and say they’re drawn to new things so we try to surprise them with a different idea of what’s available to them.”

Not far away from Sun-Ray’s tent is Humber Happenings I Summer 2013 15

cover story

Crosswind Farm co-owner Cindy Hope offers samples of various goat-based products to HBS residents.

Top: Jams made fresh from Sun-Ray’s fruits.

Bottom row: The HBS Farmers’ Market offers a fresh, diverse collection of goods.

©Stan Wojick

©Stan Wojick

Daniel’s Farm, where Olga Demkowicz is busy chatting with customers as they marvel at their strawberries, asparagus, radishes, green onions and fresh herbs. She says they always try to have fresh goods available, but what’s interesting about their 5-acre, family-owned farm located just outside Toronto is the extra bit of personal care that goes into their farming.

“We pick by hand, plant by hand,” she says.

Demkowicz says they pick their produce the night before they sell it to ensure its freshness, and really welcomes and appreciates the opportunity to meet new people in the Humber Bay Shores

HBSCA president Jim Reekie with Ward 6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore Councillor Mark Grimes.

16 HumberHappenings.ca

community every week.

“I hope to make the people happy, that when they buy a product, they like it,” she says. “I really like this area, I like this park. I really like the people.”

Crosswind Farm co-owner Cindy Hope aspires to offer something a little different with their collection of goat-based products. Located just outside of Peterborough, Crosswind brings fresh goat’s milk, yogurt, feta, 14 different flavours of cheese, butter and milk whey fed veal.

Hope looks forward to interacting with Humber Bay Shores residents every week, and welcomes the chance to meet new people and run into old faces throughout the summer and into the fall.

“This is an amazing location. The people in this area are treating us so well,” she says. “I love seeing their reaction and then getting the feedback from them so we can try different things going forward.”

Hope provides an assortment of samples for customers to try right at the table. Based on the feedback she receives, she hopes to bring back old favourites each week in addition to new treats for customers to try.

Among the residents perusing the

©Stan Wojick

Humber Bay Shores Farmers’ Market was Ward 6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore City Councillor Mark Grimes, who feels the Market had a very strong turnout in its first week and sees it expanding and becoming livelier with each passing week.

“I’m impressed by how active this community is,” Grimes says. “They are really amazing at putting together events like these.”

Councillor Grimes says an attractive element of the Farmers’ Market for him is the ability to shop locally and buy fresh goods directly from Ontario farmers.

“It’s about shopping locally and it’s important that we do support them,” he says. “It’s absolutely fantastic to have this come together.”

While Councillor Grimes personally cherishes the opportunity to buy fresh fruits, vegetables and buns, his observations of what he sees from the people in attendance and their interactions with the assortment of family-run businesses clinch the experience for him.

“People are out here walking with their families to support local farmers,” he says. “This is what it’s about for me.”

HBSCA president Jim Reekie was also pleased with the turnout and agrees it will only get bigger with each passing week.

Humber Bay Shores residents can expect a greater variety of foods as the months go by, including organic fruit, vegetables, meat and poultry farmers.

Altogether Reekie feels the Market is already a success as it’s bringing the Humber Bay Shores community together, working as one to promote itself and the fresh foods produced by farming families located across the province of Ontario.

“It’s building a community and getting people out and making it a better community for everybody, every day,” Reekie says. “I’m very happy with it.” HH

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HBSCA Public Transit Access to the City Core HBSCA continues to research, lobby and liaise with authorities on behalf of the residents and owners of the Humber Bay Shores area (HBS). On April 15, 2013, HBSCA President Jim Reekie and Vice-President Don Henderson met with Laurel Broten, MPP, Etobicoke-Lakeshore and a variety of City representatives at her constituency office. In attendance were Karen Stintz, City of Toronto Councillor, Ward 16, EglintonLawrence & Chair, Toronto Transit Commission; our Councillor, Mark Grimes, and Paul Finnerty, Vice President of GO Transit Operations.

It is plain to see by anyone living in or visiting this part of the city that it has and continues to change. MPP Broten acknowledged HBS is a rapidly growing community with currently upwards of 14,000 residents living in the community.

The HBSCA board feels that HBS is in dire need of enhanced transportation services. HBSCA President Reekie emphasized that by stating, “when all of the new condo construction is completed in the next few years, we could have approximately 30,000 residents. That’s a small city within the city.

There is a need to have better public transportation to allow our residents convenient access to the city core.”

In general this position is agreed to by the attendees.

Great discussion ensued throughout the meeting and various

18 HumberHappenings.ca

options were put forward to City representatives by HBSCA. These included: A) a GO train that could intermittently stop in Humber Bay during rush hour in the morning and the evening.

There would be minimal need for parking as the community could walk to the stop.

B) a GO bus service through HBS that would go directly to Mimico GO Station.

C) a full-time bus route on Lakeshore to the downtown core.

D) the Humber Loop being moved from the present location to Park Lawn and Lake Shore. This would increase the number of streetcars from eight minute intervals to four, therefore providing better service to the downtown core.

Preceding this roundtable discussion, at its April 11 meeting the City’s Planning and Growth Committee had introduced a motion asking staff to study the option of a new GO station in the Humber Bay Shores neighbourhood. This is obviously a long-term project but does merit consideration from the HBSCA position. Perhaps coupled with recommissioning a defunct TTC station at the current loop once the new one is installed, it could be accommodated. This option is one of the strategies we could see as viable.

HUMBER BAY SHORES CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION

In the immediate timeframe, Paul Finnerty, VP, GO Transit Operations related that the “Mimico GO Train Station has a lot of history and needs to be modernized. We have put a lot of money into it, with $44-million allotted to that station’s improvements. The plans have been drawn and we have already completed work on the platform expansions and extensions.

There is much more to do, including renovating the tunnel and the elevator for full access – all of this is on the books.” Part of this multi-million dollar expansion plan for GO service, is investing in public transit as a part of the “McGuinty government’s plan to strengthen the economy.” To that end MPP Broten also indicated that, “this is welcome news for commuters in the Etobicoke-Lakeshore area. Improved platforms and more parking spaces will give commuters a better, more accessible station and make public transit easier to use.”

HBSCA sees at minimum the shuttle bus type service running through our neighborhood back to the Mimico GO station.

Discussion arose surrounding the return run of the current Express TTC bus serving the area as that shuttle when traveling westbound. This option of providing bus service is wise from our perspective as it eliminates the need for more parking at the Mimico station as we would all, “get on the GO” within the HBS, leaving our cars at our residences.

Other options discussed were accelerating the moving of the TTC loop from its current position north of the Gardiner to the Parklawn & Lake Shore intersection. From other conversations with Traffic & Transportation HBSCA has learned that intersection improvements to the Park Lawn & Lake Shore area will include moving the TTC island, widening by way of dedicated turn lanes, and other enhancements are in the plans. We continue to lobby for that implementation.

We have been informed that due to HBSCA’s persistent effort, Lake Shore Boulevard will begin to be resurfaced this fall. Mark Berkovitz, Senior Engineer, City of Toronto has informed us the first section is from Palace Pier Court westward to the TTC tracks which is clearly the worst part of the street. As construction west of that point slows we will continue to push for more resurfacing as the current status is unacceptable.

The meeting concluded with exchanges of contact information and with assurances that the HBSCA area requires further study in light of the options and suggestions that were proposed by HBSCA representatives at the meeting.

We are pleased with the receptivity of the officials in attendance and will continue to support those who embrace a responsible attitude toward the HBS residents.

Look for more updates at HumberBayShores.org and in upcoming issues of Humber Happenings.

Humber Happenings I Summer 2013 19

WineSights

Taking the DTram to Vienna Austrian wines are perfect complements to the tastes of summer.

by John Switzer

I

recently returned from a trip to Europe where I was a judge at the annual Decanter World Wine Awards in London. I then travelled to Austria for a few days where I visited a rare wine region: the city of Vienna.

Vienna is unique as the only city in

the world with a designated wine region.

Before exploring the wines of Vienna, let’s do a quick checkpoint on Austria.

This is a country known more for Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven, skiing and wienerschnitzel than for its wines. That’s not to say Austrian wines are unworthy of great-

er recognition. In fact, these wines pale for most consumers when compared with the big, fruit-forward, oak-laden and critically acclaimed wines of the New World.

Austrian wines are made with indigenous grapes such as Grüner Veltliner, Welschriesling, Zwiegelt and Blaufränkisch.

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WineSights These grapes represent the country’s most significant plantings and aren’t found outside their home country.

These particular wines are light in weight, display bright and delicate fruit and have elevated levels of acid. They’re simple, undemanding and best consumed when young. You might wonder why anyone would be interested in them, but there’s a very good reason to explore Austrian wines. They’re delightful companions to food, especially when that food is light in weight.

The wines of Austria are a great match for summer fare and I recommend checking out the Eastern Europe section of the General List for some Austrian wines to test this summer.

Returning to Vienna, the city’s grape growing area is on the Kahlenburg hills overlooking the suburban community of Nussdorf. Kahlenburg is the site of the Battle of Vienna in 1683 when Polish King Jan III Sobieskie and the armies of the Roman Empire routed the

Moors. This launched the Hapsburgs on their journey to military, cultural and dip-

The wines of Austria are a great match for summer fare.

lomatic greatness – a journey that continued into the 20th century.

Today the Kahlenberg hills are covered in 600 hectares of vines on slopes that can be seen from the centre of Vien-

na. The hills are also woven with walking trails and heurigen, which are small inns where wine growers sell food and their wines. It’s a great way to experience wine country on a two Euro tram ticket; take the D-Tram from the Hofburg in central Vienna, walk through the hills to the nearest heurigen, have a wonderful meal with fresh and cool local wine, then walk back down to Nussdorf to the end-of-line tram station at Beethovenstrasse.

If Austria isn’t in your immediate travel plans, then take plan B: buy a bottle of ZVY-GELT Zweight at your local LCBO (General List 232348 - $12.55 per bottle). Try it and maybe you’ll both adjust your travel plans and also look for more of the delightful wines of Austria.

Malzeit! HH John is the founder of Winesights Inc. For more information about Winesights, visit John’s blog at thewinesightsreader. wordpress.com.

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ask dr. ghazi

Fearful treats What you might not know about the treats you feed your pet, and what you can use as an alternative.

by Dr. Farzad Ghazi

I

n the wake of a pet food scandal (in which adulterated wheat gluten from China led to the deaths of thousands of pets in North America), we are now encountering hazardous pet treats from China.

Not everybody is aware that North American laws don’t require pet food sellers to label products with the ingredients nor the country of origin. This is even the case for some sellers of human drugs and supplements such as vitamins.

As a result, it is impossible for consumers to know where some food and supplements come from (not to mention what factory produced them).

The FDA reported 2,200 cases of pet illnesses in November 2012, including 360 canine deaths from the consumption of jerky treats. These products (also marketed as chicken tenders or strips) are imported from China and have recently been recalled in the United States.

Symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and increased thirst and urination after the ingestion of suspected treats should be treated quickly as they could be signs of renal failure. It is also advisable to keep an eye out for any change in your pet’s regular behavior (e.g. lethargy or lack of appetite). At our clinic we have encountered a few cases of toxicity with these kinds of treats. Fortunately, all patients made a good recovery with 22 HumberHappenings.ca

extensive treatments. However, I think this is just the tip of the iceberg. Until we get tougher control, this isn’t likely to be the last time.

Treats should never be considered a substitute for a balanced, quality diet.

Regardless of the source of the treat, some of them are likely to cause adverse reactions. Just imagine that most of the supplements which are fed to farm animals in order to accelerate their growth or prevent parasites (e.g. antibiotics and hormones) are stored in various organs, especially the liver. By feeding too many liver treats to your pet, you may inadvertently be feeding them residual drugs that were previously processed and stored in this organ. It is also worth noting that liver tissue has the highest concentration of cholesterol in organ meat.

Dr. Ghazi’s 15-monthold pup, Booboo, enjoys apple treats.

As a healthy alternative, I would suggest using (in moderation and as long as their tummy tolerates it) cucumber, carrots, apples and zucchini that have been thoroughly rinsed. Alternatively, you can boil boneless, skinless chicken breast and freeze it.

For those fellows who like ice, you can even freeze the leftover chicken broth to please them in the summertime.

Treats should never be considered a substitute for a balanced, quality diet.

They are intended to be fed only occasionally in small quantities. For readers who are interested in pursuing more information, I strongly recommend watching the CBC Marketplace special, “Fighting for Fido,” which aired on Sept. 28, 2012. HH Dr. Farzad Ghazi is the owner and operator of Marina Animal Hospital located in the Park Lawn area. Marina Animal Hospital provides medical and dental care, surgery services and laboratory testing to all fourlegged pets as well as aid for some legitimate rescue groups. He can be contacted at 416-255-2777. www.marinaanimalhospital.ca

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vitality to the core

How you do it Three tips to maximize workout efficiency.

by guy dufour

W

ith the panoply of training programs out there claiming to be the best way to lose weight and be healthy, how can one know what to do? Where do you start? You just want to reach your goal. You are not looking for a PhD in exercise science. You are busy with your career, your family and having a social life. The intent of this article is to bring clarity to the subject.

First, let’s address the elephant in the room: There are no shortcuts, no magic pills and no fairy dust. The single most important attribute to reaching your goal is ... consistency. That’s it. Take action. Get moving. Keep doing it. Once you have made consistency your middle name, I’d like you to meet Mr. Efficiency. He will make sure you don’t make the gym your permanent residence.

Here are three tips to help you get the most bang for your buck.

Tip #1: To lose fat and gain muscle, you must lift weights. Sounds obvious?

We often separate the two, but weight lifting can accomplish both. If you are a beginner, I recommend you hire a competent personal trainer to show you the basics. Stick to compound exercises (exercises that use multiple muscles). Squats, deadlift, pushups, chin-ups and shoulder presses are good examples. Include some 24 HumberHappenings.ca

unilateral movements to address any imbalances you may have. With weight training, you can work on burning fat, adding muscle and having a healthy body all in one session.

There are no shortcuts, no magic pills and no fairy dust.

Tip #2: My second weapon to killing fat and improving your health is interval training. This one comes in all shapes and forms. You can do it with weights, on a cardio machine or outside.

Interval training consists of activities requiring different speeds or degrees of effort. A simple example would be to sprint for 20 seconds, walk 10 seconds and repeating that combination for multiple rounds. My keyword here is variety. Have fun, mix it up. You can go outside, run up

a hill, do five pushups, walk back down, do 10 crunches and run back up. Interval training workouts are only limited by your imagination.

Tip #3: Keep steady-pace cardiovascular training to your “lazy” days. Jumping on a treadmill or on a stationary bike is often our first choice when we desire to lose weight. It is not an efficient way of working out. You only burn calories while exercising.

With weight and interval training, you keep burning calories long after you have finished your session. There are 10,080 minutes in a week. If you decide to bike or run at a steady pace for 90 of those 10,080 minutes, do you see how it will be hard to be efficient? Just to be clear, I am not against a steady pace of cardio, just don’t make it your sole tool to get in shape. If you have never exercised or have been sedentary for a very long time, starting with a walk or a lower intensity exercise is definitely recommended. As you get into better shape, increase the intensity to keep the workouts challenging. HH

Guy Dufour is the founder of Corefit Training.

He is a certified personal trainer, strength coach and has a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Guy’s philosophy is that overall health and fitness is for life and can be achieved by everyone. He can be contacted via email at guy@corefittraining.ca.

development

Court revamp Monarch’s revitalization of Village Court’s design to feature welcoming outdoor area with lakeside view and commercial opportunities.

by Alyssa Trivelli

A

t the heart of Humber Bay Shores’ emerging condo community, right where Brookers Lane terminates, is a patch of dirt with a big future. Currently, Monarch Corporation is using a portion of this land as its on-site command centre; trailers and trucks parked in the mud, without so much as a hint of what will start to unfold there next summer.

When Monarch started to investigate the possibilities for redeveloping the sections of the Motel Strip lands almost a decade ago, City Planning had already identified the necessity for enhanced outdoor amenity, pedestrian connectivity, and public leisure/recreation spaces along the South Etobicoke waterfront in order to meet the growing needs of a booming neighborhood. Even earlier, the City successfully secured the TRCA parkland area at the water’s edge, at the same time it contemplated the construction of Marine Parade Drive – arrangements that stem from negotiations between the City and landowners dating back to the late 1980s!

With its Explorer and Voyageur condo developments, Monarch committed another layer of parkland amenities to the City and the Humber Bay Shores community, conveying additional lands

that would later be incorporated into Jean Augustine park at 2115 Lake Shore Blvd. W.. This also gave the public an interest in perpetuity over the “Village

The end result will be something residents of Humber Bay Shores can be proud of.

Court” area. At that time, with a number of exciting condominium developments still to be constructed – notably “Nautilus” and “Waterscapes,” on the south side of Brookers Lane – it was decided that the build-out of Village Court would be completed later, once the new structures effectively framed the space.

That time is fast approaching.

Over the last year, Monarch and its team of designers (including Christine Abe of MBTW Group – worth Googling; a highly-respected pro in the

industry!) has worked with City staff to revamp earlier versions of the Village Court design with the collective goal of updating the concept to make it more contemporary, more inviting and more engaging. A working group, facilitated by the City and including a number of community representatives, met late last year to review the proposed modifications and to provide input into the final plan.

The refined vision for the space now focuses on a few key objectives: providing a welcoming, amenitized outdoor area for casual and formal gatherings, creating spill-out retail opportunities with seating, tables and maximizing views to the lake; all the while activating the space with plantings and interesting design flourishes.

The end result will be something Humber Bay Shores residents can be proud of. While it’s still a bit too early to share renderings of the space, it is expected that construction will begin next summer, and more details will start to trickle out as we get closer to a confirmed groundbreaking. HH Alyssa Trivelli is a graduate from the University of Western Ontario’s Urban Development program. Upon graduating in 2009, Alyssa was hired by Monarch to work in its High-Rise division.

Humber Happenings I Summer 2013 25

Councillor’s Corner

Shaping your community Latest condo consultation surveys offer the chance to speak up about community issues.

by Mark Grimes

A

s many already know, Toronto has more high-rise buildings under construction than any other city in North America. The vast majority of these buildings come in the form of new condominiums, and with them come unique challenges. It is clear that as the percentage of Torontonians who live in condo communities like Humber Bay Shores grows, the City of Toronto must continue to adapt its policies to better serve the unique needs of its residents.

Condo Consultation Survey To this end, the City is in the process of a comprehensive condominium consultation. The purpose of this consultation is to engage with condo residents, condo boards, businesses located in condo buildings, property managers, City staff and others to identify possible changes to City policies as they relate to condo living in Toronto.

Some examples of existing issues that the City has been made aware of to date include: access to parks and dog parks, recreational and community amenities, parking and visitor parking and childcare options in the neighbourhood.

One round of community meetings took place in March with a second round of surveys targeted to go out in June 2013. Please take the time to visit 26 HumberHappenings.ca

the project website toronto.ca/planning/condo_consultation or contact my office for more information. The feedback received in this consultation will

The purpose of this consultation is to engage with condo residents.

directly inform City policies as they relate to the approval, construction and community services for new and existing condominiums.

E -Bikes When the summer months come upon us the usage of the shared trails in our waterfront parks always skyrockets.

Some of the biggest challenges the City faces with these trails is accommodating the different uses. Of late, e-bikes have received a great deal of attention as they

are a relatively new addition to our paths and roadways and unfamiliar to many.

Electric bicycles may be ridden on park roads in the City of Toronto, but motors should not be used on park paths and trails. This means that on paths such as the Waterfront - Martin Goodman Trail, Don Valley Trail, or Humber Trail, a police officer or bylaw officer may ticket an electric bicycle rider $305 for engaging their motor. An electric bicycle user may use their motor while traveling on roadways to arrive to a City Park, but once they enter the park, they must turn off their motor and propel themselves by pedaling while in the City Park. All trail users should remember that the speed limit for park paths and trails is 20 km/h.

The City of Toronto is currently reviewing its bylaws to better address the different types of electric bicycles presently being used on Toronto’s streets and to articulate the way in which they may use Toronto’s bicycle facilities to ensure their own safety and the safety of those around them. HH

Mark Grimes is the Councillor for Ward 6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore. He is a life-long resident, activist and businessperson in south Etobicoke. He can be reached by email at councillor_grimes@toronto.ca, or by phone at 416-397-9273.

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Humber Happenings I Summer 2013 27

Hill Happenings

Lower tariffs, greater savings Taking the steps to save your family money.

By Bernard Trottier

P

arents are fully aware of the expenses that come with raising a family. From basic necessities such as clothing and food, to education and recreational activities – it adds up fast. The Conservative government has worked consistently to deliver significant savings for Canadian families since it was first elected in 2006.

It started with the Universal Child Care Benefit, providing real choice in child care by giving parents $1,200 a year for each child under the age of six.

We’ve kept taxes low, including cutting the lowest personal income tax rate to 15 per cent, as well as cutting the GST from 7 per cent to 5 per cent.

We’ve also delivered tax credits that help families save every year, such as the Family Caregiver Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit and the Children’s Arts Tax Credit. The average family now saves $3,200 a year.

Despite these savings, constituents in Etobicoke-Lakeshore remind me that many products needed to support their families are consistently priced higher in Canada compared to the same product sold in the United States. We’ve taken action through our latest budget, Economic Action Plan 2013, to help deliver lower prices for Canadian families.

28 HumberHappenings.ca

Hockey skates, skis and baby clothing are just a few of the goods that will now be a little more affordable. To do this,

Since 2009 we’ve eliminated 1,900 tariffs.

the Government removed tariffs on imported baby clothing and sports equipment, resulting in significant savings for families. Other examples of gear that are now tariff-free include: snowboards, golf clubs, toboggans and roller skates. We expect competitive businesses to pass these savings on to their customers.

This builds on our Government’s strong record of providing real savings to Canadians. In fact, since 2009, we’ve eliminated nearly 1,900 tariffs, providing over $590-million in annual tariff relief to Canadian businesses and consumers.

We hope to provide further tariff relief for Canadian exporters through our free trade agenda. The proposed Canada-EU free trade deal will add about $10-billion annually to Canada’s economy and will provide tariff savings of almost $750-million a year.

Economic Action Plan 2013 also introduced the long-overdue restructuring of Canada’s General Preferential Tariff (GPT) regime, created in 1974 to assist the least developed countries.

The world has changed a lot since 1974, and countries like China, Brazil, India and South Korea would not be classified as “least developed countries” today. To be clear, the GPT regime is not a free trade program and does not give Canadian companies increased access to GPT countries. Therefore, beginning in 2015, countries like China will no longer receive preferential tariff treatment; they will be treated like any other country with whom we do not have a free trade agreement.

As a strong particpant in the global economy, our tariff policies are the key to shaping our trade relations. By reducing tariffs, we hope to ease the finanical burden of raising a family in Canada. HH

Bernard Trottier has served EtobicokeLakeshore since 2011 as its MP and serves on a number of federal committees.

©Tracy Lamb, Mopani Communications.

HBSCA is bringing a Farmers’ Market to the community!

Saturdays from 8 am – 1 pm

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For more information on the HBSCA Farmers’ Market, please contact Jim Reekie at 416.357.3899.

broten bulletin

Watching over Ontario’s seniors Finding Your Way program aims to protect the province’s most at-risk seniors. by laurel broten

T

he Ontario government is helping to keep Etobicoke-Lakeshore’s seniors and people with dementia safe by ensuring their families, caregivers and the community as a whole are prepared to act in case they go missing.

Finding Your Way With support from the province, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario is launching the new Finding Your Way wandering prevention program. The first of its kind in Canada, the program works to raise awareness of the risks facing those with dementia and aims to enhance the community’s response in case they go missing.

Tips, Resources and Prevention As part of the program, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario will be distributing kits that include tips and resources that will help families and caregivers put plans in place to prevent wandering incidents, allowing them to act quickly if a senior goes missing. The province is also providing support to the Ontario Police College to develop and deliver police training that incorporates wandering prevention into the police curriculum, ensuring that new police officers are equipped to ably handle cases of wandering seniors.

30 HumberHappenings.ca

Raising Awareness This new program will go a long way towards increasing awareness of the risks of people with dementia going missing

Three out of five people with dementia go missing at some point.

and help caregivers prevent missing incidents and crises before they occur. It is also available in several languages, which will make it easier to reach our diverse population.

What’s in the kit?

Kits will include an identification form with space for a recent photo and physical description that can be shared with police in an emergency, at-home safety steps to help prevent wandering incidents, and tips on what to do when a person with de-

mentia goes missing and when reuniting after a wandering incident.

Risks and Concerns Three out of five people with dementia go missing at some point, often without warning. 50 per cent of seniors missing for 24 hours or more risk serious injury or death from exposure to the elements, hypothermia and drowning. 75 per cent of seniors who go missing are found within 2.4 kilometres from where they disappeared. Currently, 200,000 Ontarians have dementia, an increase of 16 per cent over the past four years. By 2020, close to 250,000 seniors in Ontario will be living with some form of dementia.

Getting Involved Finding Your Way is an important part of Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors. We recognize that to support our seniors and to help keep them protected and safe, we need to support their families and caregivers by giving them the information they need to be prepared and to respond in a timely manner when a family member goes missing. HH Laurel Broten is the MPP for Etobicoke Lakeshore area and is the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and is Minister responsible for Women’s Issues. You can email her at laurelbroten.onmpp.ca.

hbsca

Annual HBSCA Fundraiser

7th Annual Golf Tournament Friday, September 13th, 2013 Eagle Ridge Golf Club (R.R. #4, 11742 Tenth Line, Georgetown, ON

L7G 4S7)

$150 includes: golf, power cart, putting practice & driving net, lunch At the Turn, locker rooms, shower facilities, participant prize, valet bag drop and Hole-in-One Contest.

Drinks not included.

Singles and Foursomes are welcome – Book early!

Lots of Prizes! A draw will be held for three Grand Prizes.

Tickets for sale on day of event, $5.00 each or three for $10.00.

Sponsor A Hole for $300 or donate a prize in support of the Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association.

Join your friends and neighbours – come out and be a part of an exciting day on the beautiful course.

For information and registration please contact:

Jim Reekie at 416.503.1527/ jbr1616@rogers.com or Jay Perry at 416.587.1748/ jayperry@a-b-c-inc.com

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