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The Strumbellas look to take home the big prize on the big stage Page 10 BUSINESS 6 KIDS & FAMILIES 8 CALENDAR 13 HOME & GARDEN 14 SPORTS 15
since before
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APRIL 2013
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Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage
Design released for Postal Station
do that.” The current station includes two buildings: a beautiful twostorey limestone structure out front and a one-storey brick distribution centre in the back. The limestone structure boasts a sizeable forecourt, which Winberg says Rockport will develop as an open public space. “We’re going to completely renovate the front of the building, try to bring it back to the original architectural flavour,” he says. “We’ll restore the limestone, and hopefully make it a retail space where people can continue to enjoy the forecourt, and also the inside of the building.” The developers plan to demolish the distribution centre and replace it with a 26-storey residential tower, which will be attached to the heritage building with a four-storey glass atrium. “We hope it will be seen as a very beautiful tower that will pick up the highlights of the limestone and the heritage aspects of the old post office,” Winberg says. “We can’t pretend it won’t have any impact on Yonge or on our neighbours, but we thought it would all fit together very well.” He doesn’t know yet what type of commercial tenant will CITY Page 2
Plan would keep building and public open space Eric Emin Wood News
francis crescia/town crier
Jeans for teens Students at Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School spent Lent collecting jeans for the Scott Mission to help clothe the estimated 1,500 to 2,000 homeless and runaway teens in the city.
Fight’s on over Art Shoppe condos Proposal too dense for neighbourhood: Matlow Eric Emin Wood News
Imagine being the owner of 40 Hillsdale Ave. E., a two-level red-brick townhome near Yonge and Eglinton. Every morning you
watch the sun rise above a house-lined street dotted with trees and every evening watch it set behind your neighbour, fine furniture retailer The Art Shoppe. Now imagine no longer seeing the sunset because your neighbour is a 29-storey condo.
With The Art Shoppe moving from its current site, property owners Freed Developments plan to redevelop the existing building into a pair of condominium towers, 38 and 29 storeys tall. “The current structure is essentially a long, one-or-two-storey cement block that doesn’t contribute to the street very well,” MINTO Page 3
While Rockport Group’s plans for the Postal Station K site will transform the surrounding area, the actual historic limestone building will remain largely intact according to a preliminary design released by the developer. Rockport CEO Jack Winberg says the company is calling its project Montgomery Square, a nod to the site’s history as the original location of the Montgomery Tavern, William Lyon Mackenzie’s headquarters during the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. He says there is no question the recent protests brought the site’s legacy to Rockport’s attention, but says it immediately embraced the notion of preserving its historical integrity. “We think our plan makes a very substantial contribution to the public realm,” he says. “At the moment there’s a lot of concrete pillars and planters that don’t really open the site up.... So we’re going to
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NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER April 2013
Town Crier wins big at awards Staff takes home top prize in every category we could Gordon Cameron Managing Editor
The team behind the Town Crier turned in a fantastic showing at the 2012 Ontario Community Newspapers Association’s Better Newspapers Awards, winning every category in which we were finalists. Leading the pack was Omar Mosleh who won both first and second place in the Best News
Story for large newspapers category. Mosleh’s winning article “For rich or for poor�, juxtaposed a claim of a high end realtor that there weren’t enough million dollar homes in Toronto with the fact there isn’t enough affordable housing in the city. Judge Ian Jacques was quite impressed with Mosleh’s work noting that Mosleh “had several top notch stories in this category.� “This one stands-out for its in-depth look at this issue, strong layout and a great read from start to finish.� The second place story of Mosleh’s “Casa to become casi-
no?� looked at a proposal to turn the historic landmark into a gambling den. Here Jacques not only commented on Mosleh’s writing but also the design work of Town Crier Editorial Art Director Shadi Raoufi. “Well researched and the layout and front page graphics really drew the reader in,� Jacques wrote in his judge’s comments. “So extra kudos for that.� Shawn Star’s story “Beyond rote learning,� which looked at new and innovated ways to teach math, took home the top prize in the Education Writing category.
We are Celebrating
“The writing is crisp and brings the reader into the classroom in the first sentence,� wrote category judge Chris Foulds. “Shawn Star takes a subject often dismissed as dull — math — and makes it interesting in humanizing fascinating learning techniques.� Former city councillor Sandra Bussin was named Columnist of the Year for her “The View from The Beach� column in the Beach-Riverdale-East York Town Crier, which largely focuses on Beach-related municipal politics. Bussin’s three nominated columns looked at the first year of Rob Ford’s mayoralty, the true cost of service cuts and the lack of civility at city hall. “These articles show strong knowledge and history with the subject matter,� wrote judge Sheena Read. “I learned a lot about a topic we’re only getting sound bytes on here in
PHOTO COURTESY OCNA
WHAT A HAUL: Shawn Star, left, and Gordon Cameron proudly show off the six awards the Town Crier team won at the 2012 Better Newspapers Contest.
western Canada.� The Town Crier’s website was awarded first place and Toronto Today’s site came second in the member chosen Surfer’s Selection category. This category has been won by one of our websites for the last
five years. Congratulations to all the reporters, photographers, designers and editors for all their hard work and passion. Once again your efforts have been recognized as being among the best in all of Ontario.
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graphic courtesy Rockport Group
NEW LOOK: Developer Rockport Group has released a preliminary design of what they’re planning for the existing Postal Station K site at Yonge Street and Montgomery Avenue. The existing buildings would be retained, but condos would rise over and around them.
City has no say yet about project Cont. from Page 1
take up residence oan the site. “We’re talking to the business community to see just what kind of uses will find that space attractive,� Winberg says. “We’re hoping that some combination of restaurants or highend retail would take advantage of the site’s uniqueness.�
Because the sale of the site hasn’t been finalized Ward 16 councillor Karen Stintz says the city hasn’t yet received any redevelopment plans. “We don’t have any jurisdiction until it gets transferred into private hands,� she says. “We’ve expressed our intention to designate the building as
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historically significant and the developer has accepted that’s our intent and is working within that framework.� Stintz says the building will continue to operate as a post office until the area’s new postal facility, also being developed by Rockport, is built in Leaside in the next year and a half.
April 2013 NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER
City to study syncing signals Could better control of traffic lights lead to less gridlock? Justin Robertson News
Two years ago, after logging many complaints from his midtown residents, Ward 22 councillor Josh Matlow requested a staff report on synchronizing traffic signals as a way to help reduce gridlock on city streets. “It’s tried and true,� he said. “You look at other cities around the world – Los Angeles, New York – they have it. It’s a way to increase the driver’s ability to get through the city quickly. “The plan is to make most of the city, in certain gridlock hot spots operating under the same technology and synched to the city command centre.� A city study into the feasibility and cost on traffic signal coordination won’t be made public until May 12, but the cost for the new technology is estimated to be in the millions,
which Matlow called an necessary investment. Most of Toronto’s traffic signals are already in synch, but according to director of transportation services Miles Currie, there are parts of the city that aren’t, and some of the technology is aging or regularly malfunctions. Since September 2011, the city has conducted a series of congestion and traffic signal studies which took into account the traffic flow, lane closures and pedestrians. Based on those results synching traffic lights may not have a major impact on traffic flow. “Traffic signals account for a small percentage of reoccurring traffic,� Currie said. “But traffic signal coordination is just one of many aspects of road congestion we look at.� Matlow agrees and said he would also like to see the city address curb hogs and on-road construction. “We are targeting those issues,� he said. “We’ve had big debates on the future of gridlock and if we increase the synchronization of traffic lights we’ll see an improvement in congestion�.
TOWN CRIER FILE
NO FUN: For those who use the city’s roads sitting in traffic isn’t fun. To help get things moving Ward 22 councillor Josh Matlow has asked for a report on the impact that synchronizing traffic lights would have on congestion.
Minto could be precedent
Cont. from Page 1
TOWN CRIER FILE
WHAT’S NEXT? Freed Developments has proposed a pair of condo towers for the Art Shoppe site on Yonge Street.
ments may have precedent on its side as the high-rise towers of Minto Midtown was constructed on neighbourhood-designated land. The towers were controversial with the North Toronto Tenants Network launching an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board, which ultimately allowed their construction. Matlow says that unlike the Minto towers, which are directly adjacent to apartment neighbourhood land, The Art Shoppe is located next to single-family homes. “There would be no reasonable transition between a twostorey house and a 38-storey building,� he says. Matlow has shared his con-
cerns with site owner Peter Freed, who met with local residents who, Matlow says, voiced similar concerns. “They were not saying they didn’t want any development there ... but it has to be reasonable,� he says. “Should we just roll over and capitulate every time a developer wants to make more money? I don’t think so.� Matlow says there will be a public meeting to discuss the development in the spring, and that he’ll post the date on his website. A spokesperson for Freed Developments said the company believes it would be premature to offer thoughts at this time, but that it looks forward to sharing details in the future.
PROOF
says councillor Josh Matlow. “I don’t think anyone would disagree that something better could be there.� Matlow adds that according to city planning guidelines, the most appropriate development for the land would be mid-rise — something between eight and 15 storeys — not a pair of tall buildings. “I’d like to see a beautifully designed mid-rise building with retail at grade ... and residential above,� he says. Matlow says The Art Shoppe is located south of land the city has designated for urban and apartment neighbourhood development, where high-rise buildings are encouraged. Instead, much of the area south of Eglinton Avenue and north of Davisville Avenue has been designated for neighbourhood development, he says. Matlow compares the effect to Yonge Street and Davisville Avenue, which includes schools, retirement homes and houses on the north side, and 20 to 30-storey buildings on the apartment neighbourhood-designated south side. The intended result, he says, is that buildings rise or fall incrementally in height, so that residents who prefer houses and residents who prefer apartments both receive what they want. However, Freed Develop-
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NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER April 2013
president and puBlisher Lori Abittan
TownHall
Mailing Address: Town Crier, 101 Wingold Ave., Toronto, ON M6B 1P8
Don Valley West Councillor
Why the waterfront matters to Ward 25 Jaye Robinson
It may be miles away but what happens at the lake impacts all of Toronto Town Crier newspapers are published by Multicom Media Services Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Multimedia NOVA Corporation, an integrated communications company publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MNC.A Lori Abittan President and CEO Joe Mastrogiacomo Vice President of Finance, and CFO Doreen Iannuzzi Vice President of New Media Website: multimedianova.com E-mail: lori@multimedianova.com Printed by NEWSWEB Printing Corporation A subsidiary of Multimedia NOVA Corporation Telephone: 416-785-4300 E-mail: info@newswebprinting.ca
editorial art director Shadi Raoufi production Tony Lomuto (Supervisor), Dino DiMaria special projects Jennifer Gardiner director of Marketing Joe March director of print Tony Baron
Business Manager Kathlyn Kerluke Managing editor Gordon Cameron Business & special projects editor Ann Ruppenstein sports editor Perry King
CoNtACt
the
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CrIEr
Spring is around the corner and Ward 25’s parks and public spaces will soon jump back to life. The warm weather will also draw Torontonians back to our quickly changing waterfront. After working hard over the past two years to ensure that solid city-building remained the touchstone of the Port Lands revitalization plan, I was appointed to the Waterfront Toronto Board
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feeling and strengthen the city’s connection to its waterfront. Drawing on my background bringing Nuit Blanche to Toronto and helping to get Winterlicious and Summerlicious off the ground, I want to work on drawing Torontonians — from Ward 25 and across the city — to the parks and public spaces that line our new and improved lakefront. If you have a great idea about how to animate our waterfront’s new parks and public spaces, please send me an email at councillor_robinson@toronto.ca. You should also sign up for Waterfront Toronto’s excellent e-newsletter by visiting www.waterfronttoronto.ca/newsletter to stay on top of the latest news.
Cops say Yorkdale shooting is most likely gang related
Telephone: 416-785-4300 Fax: 416-488-3671 Editorial email: news@mytowncrier.ca Advertising email: info@mytowncrier.ca
The Town Crier welcomes readers’ comments suitable for publishing. Send letters to letters@mytowncrier.ca, or by mail or fax to the addresses above. We reserve the right to edit for space, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, street name, and a daytime phone number (for verification purposes).
late last year. With an initial board meeting under my belt, I can say that the sheer amount of new parks and public spaces underway is impressive. The first phase of Underpass Park opened late last summer and this spring will see a flood of new spaces open to the public, including the second phase of Underpass Park, Don River Park and a newly revitalized York Quay. The lake is a good distance from land locked Ward 25 and more than a few constituents have told me that it is difficult to feel connected to our waterfront let alone stay on top of the latest developments. One of my key goals as a Waterfront Toronto board member is to counter that
March 30 incident left one man dead and another in hospital Shawn Star Crime
Police are now saying that a shooting at Yorkdale Mall over the Easter weekend that left one man dead and another in hospital was likely gang related calling the shooting an “ambush”. Michael Nguyen, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene on March 30, just past 8 p.m. after officers arrived and reportedly found him suffering from numerous gunshot wounds in the west parking lot near the Sears entrance. A second man, age 24, was also shot, but was taken to hospital and was recovering. Police said during a late-night media scrum that they believe Nguyen was in one of two groups that were involved in alterca-
tion at the mall just before shots rang out. Officers were reviewing hours of security footage and interviewing witnesses in order to learn more about what transpired. No suspect descriptions have been released, but police did say they are looking for five or six suspects. Much of the west parking lot remained part of the crime scene overnight, and many people who were at the mall were unable to retrieve their cars until the next day. Nguyen’s murder was the 15th in the city this year. During a media scrum, homicide detective Robert North said that Nguyen was known to police. It has been reported that Nguyen was one of three young offenders involved in a violent 2008 home invasion in Windsor where he and his accomplices used knives and guns. All were sentenced as adults and after serving their time were released on three-year probation and given a lifetime weapons possession ban. Nguyen was described at the time as an exemplary inmate by his lawyer, who said he had made a remarkable turnaround while in custody. Even the judge was quoted as saying all three had made strides he would not have predicted, that they took advantage of upgrading education and getting therapy, and that their futures were in their own hands. Following Nguyen’s murder, only one of those three convicted in the home invasion is still alive as Qoheleth Chong, was shot to death on a sidewalk on College Street just east of Bathurst last November. The third person, Rowan Atkins, has
photo courtesy toronto police service
MICHAEL NGUYEN was shot and killed in what police say was an ambush.
been arrested numerous times since while in possession of firearms. One of those arrests came within six months of his release, when according to another media report, he was in possession of a loaded .357 Magnum and tried to evade police by boarding a TTC bus. As a result of that arrest, Atkins received a second lifetime ban on possession firearms. Police believe there are many witnesses to Nguyen’s murder who left before officers arrived and have yet to come forward. They are being urged to contact police at 32 Division by phone at 416-808-3200.
April 2013 NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER
Community loses social service legend Charlotte Maher made a career out of helping the groups that help midtown Eric Emin Wood Features
Talk to a dozen people about Charlotte Maher, and a remarkably consistent picture emerges: an assertive leader; a supportive friend; a cheerful woman; and the type of person who rarely distinguished between her personal and professional life because she was lucky enough to love her job. Born in the United States in 1924, Maher earned a teaching certificate from Indiana’s Earlham College, a social work degree from Boston University and later, an advanced social work diploma from the University of Toronto. She was already in her late 30s when she began her career in North Toronto’s social services community in 1961. Maher never became the face of a single organization. Instead, she frequently changed companies, said Jane Moore, retired executive director of Senior Peoples’ Resources In North Toronto (SPRINT). “For about the last 20 years of her professional life, she made her living as interim executive director for social service agencies that were between EDs,” Moore said. “Her niche was being able to step in for three months, or a year ... figure out with the board where the organization wanted to go, and steer the ship in a good direction.” Maher served as the interim executive director at least 48 times for social service agencies across the province, including SPRINT, St. Christopher House, Youth Without Shelter, Central Neighbourhood House, Sistering and St. Clair West Services for Seniors. She was instrumental in founding the Central Eglinton Community Centre, the Upper Yonge Village Daycare, the Sherwood Park Residents Association, SPRINT, People and Organizations in North Toronto (POINT) and the Anne Johnston Health Station. “She was part of an activist group that helped persuade the government that we needed a community health centre in North Toronto,” Moore said. After retiring around 15 years ago, Maher devoted herself to volunteering full-time with CareWatch, another not-for-profit organization she co-founded that helps seniors live at home for as long as possible. “I think she felt that so long as seniors were in their own homes and able to do the things they’d always done, despite being a little shakier walking, or needing a hearing aid, they could contribute to their social scene for years,” said friend and CareWatch colleague Tammy Smith. “She was certainly not one to put up her feet and watch TV at home.” Maher got her start in Toronto working for the YWCA as she had in Pittsburgh, but soon moved on to the Central Neighbourhood House. Later she began working with the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, where one of her jobs was to collaborate with a group of North Toronto parents who ultimately formed what became POINT. “When I came to POINT, there were absolutely no services for seniors in North Toronto, and yet we had the highest percentage of seniors in the city,” said Joan Osler, POINT’s retired executive director. “It was assumed people in North Toronto didn’t need help,” she said. “We proved that wrong by developing many of the services we now have at POINT, and Charlotte was always involved in all of them.”
LOCAL NEWS
photo courtesy Jessica Anderson
HARD AT WORK: Charlotte Maher spent over 50 years working for a wide variety of groups in the midtown area, often filling in as executive director when needed. She continued to do her part, volunteering at CareWatch, an organization she helped to found, until two days before she died on March 5.
Central Eglinton Community Centre’s retired executive director Susan Kee praised Maher’s ability to relate to anyone, regardless of their background. “It didn’t matter if she was meeting with the premier or the guy on the corner,” Kee said. “Charlotte was Charlotte ... If she didn’t like what you were saying, you’d be the first to hear about it.” She was also passionate about education, serving as a public school trustee for eight years. In her personal life, Maher loved bird-watching and was an avid gardener, Wiley said. She remembered Maher giving away herbs when she grew too many. She had her vices, of course. Central Eglinton’s Kee vividly remembers Maher sucking on a cigarette, though she managed to quit in recent years, while joking about visiting “her” park on Roehampton Avenue, which former councillor Michael Walker named in her honour. And she always had a cocktail before dinner, Wiley said, usually a Manhattan or martini. POINT’s current director, Diane Werner, said that Maher always advocated for people to involve themselves in the city’s decision-making process, instead of being passive recipients of programs and services. “Charlotte wanted seniors’ voices in particular to be respected — not just heard, but respected — by policy makers and service providers,” Werner said. “Not what seniors want done to them, but what they want for themselves. “She would have mentored countless community development workers, and students and staff who were studying social work ... especially in her latter years,” Werner said. “Her death was a great loss to north Toronto, and I daresay the city as a whole.” Maher lived independently and worked at CareWatch until two days before her death on March 5.
www.MyTownCrier.ca LOCAL VIEWS
NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER April 2013
TownBusiness
Bagels are booming
added a bagel bar at Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue and just after Passover launched a third location at Yonge and Castlefield Road. “It’s called Kiva’s Bakery Ann Ruppenstein and Market. We bake eggplant Business parmesan, amazing macaroni When he was 14 years old, and cheese made with real chedLinett Timmis just the real no&powder, Ben Rafael started working at dar, Injury deal and all Lawyers kinds of amazing Kiva’s Bagels with dreams ofPersonal things from 1004, cakes toToronto chocolate being able to afford a car — aYonge 1867 St., Suite goal he realized less than two bubkas to cupcakes to healthy muffins,” he says. “We make years later. “I’ve been working at our own batter and it’s multigrain muffins, no sugar, egg Kiva’s the original store since www.linett-timmis.com whites only. People love it.” it opened in 1979,” Rafael says.mlinett@linett-timmis.com Although he noticed the “Kiva was the original baker was involved a motor vehicle accident a few need for a bakery within walkand he: Ibaked the mostinincredhis knee. home for ible things, anmy oldnecking weeksbagels ago. I from injured anddistance back andofright time, decided to European recipe, beautiful rye to some I have not been able to return my work as aRafael construction and sour breads. We’ve kept all take the plunge after coming foreman. My doctor has sent me for physiotherapy. I also across a for lease sign in the the recipes.” find thattaking I need over help with home maintenance chores. window of his new What storefront Since the resare myand legal rights?at Bathurst during a stroll in the neighbourtaurant bakery Street and Steeles Avenue 13 hood with his family. : You have the right to claim Statutory AccidenttheBenefits To celebrate grand openyears ago with his brothers Elan from your own automobile insurer with respectis togiving your away and Steve, Rafael and the team ing, the bakery
Kiva’s expands with new market
Marc Linett
416-366-5100 1-800-363-5100
Q A
lost income, physiotherapy and other necessary medical and rehabilitation expenses and for housekeeping or home maintenance expenses. An application to your insurer, including a Doctor’s Certificate and Employer’s Statement should be submitted as quickly as possible. You may also If have youthe would take advantage of person their years of right tolike seektocompensation against the experience, send your questions to “Ask the Experts” responsible for the accident for your pain and suffering and and they will be happy to reply to you in this space. By other losses which are not covered by your own automobile E-mail: adsales@mytowncrier.ca, by Fax: 416-488-3671 or insurer.Ask Youthe should consultc/o an experienced injury Ave., write: Experts, Town Crier,personal 101 Wingold Toronto, ON, M6B 1P8. that your rights are fully protected. lawyer promptly to ensure
Ask the experts
Marc Linett, a partner in the personal injury law firm of Linett & Timmis, has been practicing accident and insurance litigation in Toronto for over 37 years. His firm has established a solid reputation representing thousands of injured victims and their families throughout Ontario.
Marc Linett
Linett & Timmis Personal Injury Lawyers 1867 Yonge St., Suite 1004, Toronto
416-366-5100 1-800-363-5100 www.linett-timmis.com mlinett@linett-timmis.com
Q
: I was involved in a motor vehicle accident a few weeks ago. I injured my neck and back and right knee. I have not been able to return to my work as a construction foreman. My doctor has sent me for physiotherapy. I also find that I need help with home maintenance chores. What are my legal rights?
A
: You have the right to claim Statutory Accident Benefits from your own automobile insurer with respect to your lost income, physiotherapy and other necessary medical and rehabilitation expenses and for housekeeping or home maintenance expenses. An application to your insurer, including a Doctor’s Certificate and Employer’s Statement should be submitted as quickly as possible. You may also have the right to seek compensation against the person responsible for the accident for your pain and suffering and other losses which are not covered by your own automobile insurer. You should consult an experienced personal injury lawyer promptly to ensure that your rights are fully protected. Marc Linett, a partner in the personal injury law firm of Linett & Timmis, has been practicing accident and insurance litigation in
free six-packs of bagels and is featuring an eight-foot tall box in store filled with bagels where customers can guess how many are inside. “Historically, the key to Kiva’s is the fact that we make things traditionally,” Rafael says adding the bagels are handrolled then proofed, left overnight and then brought back to room temperature before they are boiled, seeded and baked the next day. “It’s a real bagel, it takes 24 hours to really make it and what that does is that proofing and that boiling, it creates a crust on the outside so it’s crusty on the outside and beautiful on the inside.” Rafael counts the bagels, especially the sesame and poppy seed, as the best sellers and says his personal favourite is the sesame flat bagel. “They’re extra crispy,” he says. “We take a bagel, we flatten it and we put seeds on both sides and we bake it on both sides.” Although he frequently adds to the menu and introduces new concoctions like yogourt parfait and thick French toast stuffed with Nutella and bananas, he believes their longevity in the industry comes from staying true to the quality of the product. “When we bought the business from Al Sugar he said to
ann ruppenstein/town crier
FAMILY FAVOURITE: Ben Rafael and his brothers Elan and Steve have been making bagels the same way Kiva’s original owner did back in 1979.
us, ‘If you want to add things to the menu go right ahead, do whatever you need to do, but don’t change the core products,’ ” he says. “We don’t cheapen the products in any way. Our cheese Danish is still made with real cottage cheese inside. It’s not baker’s cheese.” Over the years he’s had many interesting encounters at the bakery but he only shares a few tales off-the-record as Rafael is
working with producers on a potential TV show called Whole in the Middle based on actual events that transpired at Kiva’s but in a sitcom format. Referring to the bakery as the Jewish Cheers, he says they know all of their customers and if they don’t know them by name, they know them by their order. “People come for the food but they’re also our friends,” he
says. “Many times when we’re making sandwiches I feel as if I’m making people their sandwiches just the way their mom made them because people are very specific in terms of what they want on there. Some people say I just want a tuna sandwich with two cucumbers and you can just see that’s what the person ate when they were 12years-old with two cucumbers, not three.”
Many buildings, one showroom Real estate office tries something a little different
Ann Ruppenstein Business
While working in international real estate in Costa Rica, Adam Sax was part of a company that sold multiple developments from one office. “It was around for about six years in total and the idea worked very, very well,” he says. “We took the same model and did it for Toronto developments, where you have four, five, six or seven different developers in one space.” Although part of the new Royal LePage West End Realty group office at Eglinton Avenue W. and Avenue Road — with broker of record Jim Sturino, Rick Aurora and Peter Riccio — is a brokerage, the other half is dedicated to the showroom, dubbed the condo mall. “It’s a multi-condo development showroom so it’s kind of like a one stop condo shop where clients can come in and look for a variety of new condo developments,” Aurora says. “Instead of going from sales centre to sales centre, they can just come here and we can show them about the different projects in and around the Toronto area.” Their roster currently includes E Condos at Yonge and Eglinton, South Hill on Madi-
ann ruppenstein/town crier
ONE STOP SHOP: Adam Sax, left, Rick Aurora and Peter Riccio sell condos for several new developments out of a single showroom which is a new concept for Toronto.
son Avenue and the Tridel project at 101 Erskine Ave., and will soon feature seven developments in total. “It’s the first time ever done in Canada where you have one presentation centre for multiple projects,” says Sax. “The development community has been extremely welcoming to it and the consumer base loves it because they can come to one place as opposed to multiple sales centers across the city.” Part of Sax’s job is to scout developments to secure projects that offer perks such as a 60- or 90-day period where their
clients get first access to the developments, a $30,000 cash back savings for their clients only and amenities such as free parking or lockers, he says. “What we’ve tried to do is really create a niche for both ends, the development side for developers so they can market to one area, through one vehicle, and the consumer side so they can shop in one spot and know that they are guaranteed the best price in the city, with the best incentives and promotions and shop in one spot,” Sax says. Prior to the venture, Aurora, Riccio and TEAM Page 7
April 2013 NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER
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MR. PRIME MINISTER? Marshall McLuhan student Kris Todi has impressed his teachers with the passion he brings to his studies and his extracurriculars. Todi says he’s considering a future in politics.
Top student draws raves for hard work Tristan Carter News
Nobody’s perfect. But Kris Todi is pretty close. The Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School grade 12 student has, so far , earned a combined 99.14 percent average in his classes this semester. “There’s always room for improvement but marks aren’t everything,” said Todi. “Marks are important but it’s about learning. It’s about understanding what you’re doing. “If you’re passionate about it I think the marks just come.” In addition to excelling in the classroom Todi also spends time playing centre-defender for McLuhan’s soccer team and is the top scorer for its Reach for the Top trivia team. He is a member of the debate team and recently won best delegate at the model United Nations. “I’ve pursued the things I’m passionate about with as much vigour as I could muster and one of those passions in chess,” he said, while adding that he only started playing a couple of years ago. According to David Ryder, the teacher who heads the McLuhan’s chess club, that passion and commitment has been on full display as Todi learns the game. After all, it was Todi who began the chess club at the school. “He’s got a lot of stamina, for want of a better term,” Ryder said. “He doesn’t give up easily. “In the beginning I think I beat him once or twice in chess. But now generally [Todi] beats
me, so I’m lucky if I can get a draw.” His work ethic is drawn from his early experiences, Todi said. His family arrived in Toronto from Albania in 2001. Their first place of residence was the Beach Motel on Lakeshore Boulevard West. “I realized the value of education and I realized that in this type of society you have to really work hard,” he said. “Nothing would be handed to you but through hard work you could achieve your dreams.” Todi said he has applied to schools such as Harvard and Yale with political dreams in mind, including possibly becoming Prime Minister. As junior representative on McLuhan’s student council two years ago Todi drafted a 15-page constitution outlining the council’s powers. “I’d like to do a joint law and business degree and after that serve in some political capacity either here in Canada or maybe back home in Albania,” he said. “I really want to make a difference.” What makes Todi different from other students, according to Ryder, is how well-rounded he is as an individual, excelling in both extra-circulars and academics. “[Todi] is a student that I think every teacher would love to have,” Ryder said. “He’s a hard worker, he’s I think somebody that the other kids look up to. “He tries hard and obviously he succeeds beyond our wildest dreams so we’re very happy to have him here at McLuhan.”
Team developed app for realtors Cont. from Page 6
Sax developed an online real estate application for realtors and homebuyers to generate leads across Canada. “We took the online capabilities that we had, which was extremely successful with oneclickhomes.ca and generating all these leads, created a team and we did something unique because most brokerages don’t offer leads to their agents,” Sax says. “We’re extremely cutting edge and leading edge for our agents.” Although he counts every accomplishment at the company as notable, Riccio is grateful for his
colleagues’ encouragement, adding this venture changed his life. “Adam always encouraged me, come join me, come join us and I never believed him, I just didn’t really want to take that shot but then I did,” Riccio says. “It’s made me into the person I am today, it’s showed me a different world and combined with a love of selling and doing something I’m passionate about, it’s just a dream come true for I guess you can say a small time sales guy but with big ideas. Adam and Rick encouraged me to explore these ideas and now I do. I feel like a guy to be reckoned with.”
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NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER April 2013
Kids&Families
photo courtesy Temmi Ungerman Sears
LAWRENCE PARK TENNIS CLUB JUNIOR PROGRAM AND SUMMER CAMP 2013 WHERE THE ACTION IS FOR JUNIORS 6-16 YEARS OLD THIS SUMMER
The LPTC Junior Program runs May through June and reconvenes for September. During that time the Juniors receive an hourly lesson twice a week. The 3 clay courts are dedicated to the Juniors daily MonThurs from 4pm-6pm and Saturday mornings 9am-11am. Summer Camp starts the last week in June and continues for 7 weeks. The times are 1-4pm Mon-Fri. The LPTC Junior Program and Summer Camp are renowned for their dedicated instructors and small classes. Joe, Anna and Edward are returning to make sure all kids are enjoying group games while improving their individual skills. We welcome any Junior no matter what their skill level is. For the advanced player, we provide challenging practices and an opportunity to play against other clubs in a competitive Toronto Junior Tennis League. Our beginners take advantage of the Tennis Canada Progressive Tennis program toolkit - smaller courts and racquets, lower nets and slower balls. Join us at the Club located in the ravine on the east side of Yonge south of Lawrence. Hurry as space is limited due to small classes. $175. for the 2013 season program and $195. for each Summer Camp week.
Apply online at: www.lawrenceparktennisclub.ca or call Joe Novak, LPTC Junior Program Director at
416-785-5331
NOTE: ADULT MEMBERSHIP IS CURRENTLY FULL. PLEASE SIGN UP ON THE WAIT LIST ON OUR WEB SITE.
NOT FOR READING: To help teach your child abdominal breathing yoga instructor Temmi Ungerman Sears recommends placing a book on their belly and asking them to pay attention to its rise and fall.
Stressed kids? Tell them to just breathe Techniques can relax and calm the anxious young and old alike Nicole Witkowski Kids & Families
To relax during a hectic time, adults will tell themselves to just breathe. And the same idea works for children, says Sick Kids Anxiety Disorders team member Sandra Mendlowtiz. “When children are anxious they will complain of stomach aches, usually on a Sunday night, which is what?” asks
Mendlowitz. “The day before school.” A technique, called abdominal breathing can help your child deal with school stress, like giving a speech in front of classmates, and can be used in other highemotion situations, she says. While keeping the chest and shoulders still you inhale through the nostrils and notice the lower abdomen expanding. After holding the breath for a few seconds, release through the mouth and feel the abdomen fall, says Mendlowitz. “It’s a fuller, more complete breath,” she says. “It’s not halted. Breathing through your chest is halted,” adding that chest breathing worsens anxiety. Certified yoga instructor and founder of YogaBuds studio Temmi Ungerman
Sears calls this kind of breath, which she refers to as the Ujjayi breath, can be used as a calming tool. “It’s learning that they have an inner locus to know they have control when things go out of control,” she says. Ungerman Sears, who claims to have pioneered children’s yoga in Canada, teaches classes that help young people become aware of the here and now. “When a child is guided, they’re in the present moment and not in that scary place they’ve been in before,” she says. Deep breathing lets go of the body’s physical tension say both experts. “It helps to calm the nervous system,” Ungerman Sears says. “It can kick-start PRACTISE Page 9 ADVERTISING FEATURE
Crescent School Summer Academic Program 2013 Our co-educational Summer Academic Program offers students from all schools a variety of courses from Grades 10 – 12. Monday, June 24—Friday, July 26, 2013 Classes run from 8:30 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. No classes on Monday, July 1. Contact Michael Jansen, Director at 416-449-2556 x 355 or mjansen@crescentschool.org www.crescentschool.org
Crescent School Summer Program Crescent School extends its reputation for academic excellence into the summer months by offering its 2013 co-ed summer program to all students. Crescent is renowned for rigorous academics and exceptional facilities, and offers a variety of Grade 10, 11 and 12 credits to any student wishing to enrol. A range of high school courses including mathematics, physics, chemistry, history and accounting are offered by energetic, enthusiastic teachers. Class size is
limited to 16 (and is typically smaller) with lessons taught in bright, air-conditioned classrooms. Students have access to state-of-the-art IT; assignments/ tests are marked for the following class, and progress reports are issued weekly. Extra help is always available. Classes run from June 24 to July 26 from 8:30 am to 1:05 pm. There are no classes on July 1. We invite students interested in broadening their education to enrol in Crescent’s summer program.
April 2013 NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER
Kids&Families
Spring and summer recreational soccer programs for girls and boys to age 18
Practise when calm Cont. from Page 8
the relaxation response, which lowers body temperature, blood pressure and slows the heart rate.� She suggests placing a pillow on your child’s belly and telling them to pay attention to the rise and fall. “If you practise it when you’re calm, you’ll begin to do it automatically,� Mendlowitz says. She also says abdominal breathing is often confused with diaphragmatic breathing, which is a different technique. Mendlowitz says deep breathing is something that works for people of all ages. “Everybody should know how to do deep breathing,� she says. She encourages parents to practise abdominal breathing with their children and to set an example of the proper way to breathe. “We suggest that you practise the technique together and model the appropriate breathing technique so your kids will pick up on it,� she says. “Doing it at night lets your children know things are winding down.� Mendlowitz notes that
when kids take deep breaths they follow what others do most often, which is lifting the entire upper body and filling the lungs with an exaggerated inhale. She says filling the lungs actually constricts your breathing. “It’s hard to imagine taking a breath without moving your shoulders,� she says. “When you breathe through your abdomen, it feels tighter because you’re not used to [it].� Ungerman Sears says she sometimes puts a rose petal on the foreheads of the children in her classes or gives them a piece of chocolate as a point of focus to help bring them into the present moment. “A breathing technique is a tool used in mindfulness practise, which is about being aware and grounded,� she says. Mendlowitz says, in her experience working with children who have anxiety disorders, deep breathing has been the mainstay of helping them keep calm. “Ninety percent of kids say breathing is the most helpful tool we’ve taught them,� she says.
Age-appropriate programs following Canada’s Long-Term Player Development model. Details at www.ntsoccer.com 2008 - 2009
Learn-to-Play Program ball familiarity games, mini games
2005 - 2007
FUNdevelopment Program technique-based activities & games
2002 - 2004
Youth Recreational League technique-based activities & games
1995 - 2001
Intermediate Rec. League full-field, 11v 11 one-hour games
Separate divisions for girls and boys 1995-2007
Register online for one season or both:
SPRING season: May and June , FUNdevelopment and Rec. Leagues 2x weekly SUMMER Season: once weekly, July, August, September
photo courtesy Temmi Ungerman Sears
CALM: Abdominal breathing can take some getting used to but once a child has mastered it, it will help relax them when needed.
Providing soccer programs for children and youth for 30 years, community-based not-for-profit North Toronto Soccer Club has 5,200 players and 800 volunteers
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Spring & Summer Soccer Leagues and Summer Camp The soccer season is just weeks away and North Toronto Soccer Club is preparing for it with programs for girls and boys in the community between the ages of 4 and 18 (born between 1995 and 2009).
The Spring Soccer League runs in May and June, and a separate Summer League from July to September. For younger children, sessions include skills development and games. Weekly summer camps, full-day or half-day, operate at Eglinton Park. North Toronto Soccer Club strives to provide an enjoyable recreational program for the learning of the game of soccer and the development of skills, teamwork, discipline, and good sportsmanship, all in a positive recreational environment. All children are welcome, and parents are encouraged to join the over 800 volunteers who make the programs possible. Full details including a link to online registration: www.ntsoccer.com.
30 Years of Challenging Young Minds Crestwood School practises the traditional art of teaching by challenging young minds to learn and by structuring experiences that make learning possible.
The school’s philosophy is based on triedand-true methods of teaching the basics, thus providing students with a solid foundation in the three Rs. Homework and development of students’ organizational skills and good work/study habits are an integral part of the program. At the same time, Crestwood School is concerned with the “whole child� — striving to maintain the balance of a child’s physical, social and emotional development. Each teacher is the key. With a well-planned program, a positive rapport with each and every student, and a sense of commitment and dedication, Crestwood School’s goals are met! Crestwood is located in the beautiful wooded valley at Bayview Avenue and Lawrence Avenue. For more information please call us at 416444-5858 or visit www.crestwood.on.ca
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NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER April 2013
Arts&Entertainment
ann ruppenstein/town crier
TOP TALENT: Local musicians The Strumbellas including Darryl James, left, Jon Hembrey, Izzy Ritchie, Simon Ward and David Ritter, pictured above during their January residency at the Dakota Tavern, are up for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year at the 2013 Juno Awards for their debut album My Father and The Hunter.
Strumbellas up for Juno Award Nomination celebrations lasted all day long for band Ann Ruppenstein Arts & Entertainment
The Strumbellas front man Simon Ward counts Feb. 19, 2013 as one of the best days of his life. After receiving an invitation to the Juno nominations press conference he felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement to be surrounded by fellow musicians he respected. “The band was quietly very excited about going but didn’t want to get our hopes up just in case they were inviting us to help serve drinks or something like that,” Ward says. “As the nominations started to get announced, my heart was thumping like a rabbit on heroin. As each nomination passed, I got more and more nervous and then boom I see our name come up. I was freaking out inside, so incredibly excited and happy. I just reached out and grabbed my band mates and hugged them.” The best part of receiving the nomination for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year for My Father and The Hunter was the excitement didn’t stop for the rest of the day, Ward says, adding members of the indie-rock alt-country band celebrated over pints later that night. “We got texts and tweets from so many friends, fans and family it was unreal,” he says. “It really showed us how awesome all our fans and friends are. Obviously we didn’t get back to them, as we are now Juno nominees.” The group’s 2012 debut album was recorded at Blue Rodeo’s Woodshed Studio and Metalworks, and was produced by Cone McCaslin of the band Sum 41. “I was inspired by my absolute horrible fear of death, also about religion, my dead father and my childhood,” Ward says. “The songwriting process was basically me in my apartment writing the songs and then bringing them to the band at the
jam space and jamming them a million times until it was time to record the album. I write best when I’m real high or real low. I may be bipolar — no I’m not!” Pinpointing the beginning of his musical career, Ward recalls putting on make up and singing Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares to You” at the top of his lungs into a mirror when he was young. By the age of 12, he’d started honing his rock roots, playing in several different bands with friends. “Our names were Limp Woodies, The Buckets and Mister Blister,” the singer, songwriter, who plays a flower covered acoustic guitar, says. “I still claim that Kurt Cobain stole ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ from us.” Although the Annex resident initially took to Craigslist looking for musicians to form a band, only keyboardist, pianist and vocalist David Ritter and violinist and vocalist Izzy Ritchie stem from the call, as he already knew lead guitarist and mandolin player Jon Hembrey, bassist Darryl James and drummer Jeremy Drury from his hometown of Lindsay. Everyone now resides in Toronto, predominantly in the midtown area, although Ward claims he’d like to buy a trailer and move out into the woods. “I was driving one day, full gas tank, half a pack of cigarette’s in the glove box, thinking about band names and I liked the name Umbrellas,” Ward says. “However, it didn’t seem quite right so tout-a-coup the band-name God’s implanted Strumbellas into my head and it stuck.” The band held a residency at the Dakota Tavern in January and were featured on CMT Canada’s the Dakota Sessions. Describing their sound as indiecountry or folk-pop-grass, Ward hopes to change people’s emotions during their live show. “High or low, I want to make people sad and then happy and then mad and then loving and then alone,” he says. “I want to give them an experience that they’ll only get with The Strumbellas and even I don’t know what that is yet.” In March the band performed in a rather unique setting: Caplansky’s Deli for an event called band-
wich. Armed with jokes of smoked meat and mustard, they took the stage in the intimate venue while the Thunderin’ Thelma food truck served treats ranging from maple-bacon donuts to a special one night only sandwich called The Strumbella. “We don’t do much before shows, no chants or rituals or anything,” Ward says, admitting they once played a pant-less show and he frequently hits the stage barefoot. “No sacrificing of live chickens.” In addition to their Juno nomination, the band can also boast about having their own video game, which is the brainchild of Ritter, whose girlfriend co-created the game making company Dames Making Games and showed him the ropes, Ward says. “Apparently, according to Dave, Jon’s is the best character,” he says. “This is just one of Dave’s wonderful and crazy ideas. Let’s just say it took a lot of convincing that it’s not a financially good idea to play a show on horseback.” In the coming year he hopes to see the band release the four tracks they recently recorded in Seattle and hopes to embark on US and European tour dates. “Other than that, we just want to keep playing shows and making new music,” he says. “I like when people tell me our music is good. It makes me feel warm inside and reminds me why I do this. I don’t like when people
tell me our music sucks and then throw little pickles at us.” As for memorable stories from the road, Ward reveals everyone in the band once piled into an RCMP car outside of a bar they played in B.C. and they’ve had the chance to meet some great musicians along the way like The Trews, The Wooden Sky, Elliot Brood, One Hundred Dollars and Ron Sexsmith. “I always like meeting other musicians who are more successful than me. It drives me crazy,” he says. “Oh and most importantly, one time Jon ate two Baconators at once — a true high point for the band on both a creative and business level.”
ann ruppenstein/town crier
MUSICAL TREAT: The Strumbellas front man Simon Ward with his hand-painted guitar during an intimate set at Caplansky’s Deli in March.
April 2013 NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER
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NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER April 2013
TownTravel
A trip for lovers of all sorts Liz Campbell Features
The license plates say: Virginia is for lovers. They could have added: of history, of wine, of nature, and so much more. And nowhere are all these brought together more forcibly than in the Roanoke Valley. In the heart of the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains, this valley was a hub of travel for trail blazers like Daniel Boone who chopped their way through the wilderness to Kentucky, as well as for the earliest pioneers crossing the wide expanse of America on the Great Wagon Road, in search of a better life. A young George Washington passed this way in 1776 to inspect the frontier forts. Standing on the top of Mill Mountain in the City of Roanoke, one gets a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the calmly flowing Roanoke River. One can almost picture lines of covered wagons slowly making their hopeful way west. At the top of this mountain is a giant star, perhaps in tribute to the stars which guided the early pioneers through this valley. But the star might guide you here for a host of other reasons. Here are three I found most compelling:
NO NEED TO WORRY: At first glance it may seem like the woman on the ledge at the Taubman Museum of Art may be in danger, but in fact, as a sculpture, she’s just where she’s meant to be.
Reason 1: The wineries Most wineries offer tours, but in this area, there’s food, music and even star gazing. At Virginia Mountain Vineyards, we sample some lovely wines — my favourite is Trinity, a full-bodied blend of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot — dine on chili and bagels (where’s the lox?), then head outside to get close-ups of the moon and stars, courtesy of the Roanoke Astronomy Club and their telescopes.
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Reason 2: The Blue Ridge Parkway Running for 750 kilometres through the Southern Appalachian Mountains, this highway meanders its way along, offering dozens of spots along its length that offer spectacular views of mist-shrouded mountains, wildflower strewn pastures and even waterfalls. Hiking trails along its route beckon and we tackle the gentle Roaring Run trail near Eagle Rock, a short distance from Roanoke. Crossing footbridges in easy stages we find ourselves at the splendid waterfall whose torrent gives this area its name. With each season, the trees offer a changing panorama of colour, from the soft greens of spring to the vibrant reds and yellows of the fall. But this trail offers history too. Near its start is a furnace built in the mid-1800s to extract iron from hematite. Iron was needed then for the rapidly growing country for everything from farm machinery, tools and wagon wheels to muskets. Long since abandoned, Roaring Run is one of the few remaining furnaces standing on public land.
Reason 3: Roanoke Roanoke started life as Big Lick, named for the large outcropping of salt that drew animals to the area. It was — thankfully — renamed Roanoke in 1882. This pretty, bustling town is small enough to walk around comfortably, though there’s a free shuttle bus that circles the centre should your energy flag. My favourite spot is the central market square and the still thriving farmer’s market. The Saturday market is so large it spills onto the streets in joyful enterprise, and with so many nearby boutiques and restaurants, I find myself wanting to take home too many things that simply won’t fit in my airline bag. In an effort to restrain the shopping gene, I head to the nearby Taubman Museum of Art, a few steps away. An eclectic collection of old and new, the Taubman seems to foster new, young artists by giving them an outlet for their creations. By the way, look up from outside and your heart will stop. It seems as if there’s a young girl, her hair blowing in the wind, perched on the edge of the building. She’s a sculpture! Also near the centre of town is the Virginia Museum of Transportation. One of the earliest American railways, the Norfolk & Western Railway, linked the coast to the city of Roanoke which became a hub. At the museum, a fascinating blend of history and big, big trains capture my attention. And there are little trains too — racing around the biggest, most exciting model railway complex I’ve ever seen. It’s for the kid in all of us. Probably my favourite museum of all time is the O. Winston Link Museum which features the photography of this pioneer of the art. Link was a railway aficionado and went to extraordinary lengths to capture his passion in photos. It’s a must-see.
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April 2013 NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER
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TownCalendar
Spring sales abound in midtown Friday, Apr. 5–Thursday, Apr. 25 Next Steps Juried Art Show of Adult Independent Students at art Works art School, 238 Jane St. Annual juried show of adult independent studies. Curator: Danica Loncar. Opening reception Apr. 5, 6–8 p.m. Free. Friday, Apr. 5 Teen Night at the Movies: The Dark Knight Rises, S. Walter Stewart Library, 170 Memorial Park Ave. 5 p.m. Come in for a free teen movie (ages 13 +) and a chance to win a book prize. Saturday, Apr. 6 Kingsway-Lambton Art Show and Sale, Kingsway Lambton United Church Charity, 85 The Kingsway. 10 a.m. This annual fundraiser features over 500 pieces of original art, including contemporary and traditional paintings, folk art, photography and turned-wood objects. Free. Etobicoke Centennial Choir concert: “Haydn and Brahms”, Humber Valley United Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd. 7:30 p.m. Experience the wonder of glorious choral music in Etobicoke as the Etobicoke Centennial Choir performs two choral masterworks – Franz Joseph Haydn’s joyful Te Deum* and Johannes Brahms’ exquisite German Requiem, with its message of hope for humanity. $20. Sunday, Apr. 7 Yom Ha’Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Beach Hebrew Institute, 109 Kenilworth Ave. 2 p.m. Join us for a moving presentation, with stories, tributes, poetry and light refreshments. Free. Monday, Apr. 8–Monday, Apr. 15 Stress Management Through Restorative Meditation, Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood Rd. N. 7 p.m. Led by a Meditation Toronto instructor, this class includes 20 minutes of meditation and 40 minutes of stress-relieving stretches. Participants must supply their own Yoga mat. Register by calling 416-394-5247. Free. Mondays, Apr. 8–May 6 New Music 101, Beeton Auditorium, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St. 7 p.m. Members of the Toronto New Music Alliance will serve as your personal audio tour guides to the world of contemporary classical music, combining performance and discussion in four nights. Note: No event on Apr. 29. Free. Wednesday, Apr. 10 Toronto Midtown Business
Association Annual Speakers Series with Newstalk1010, The Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto, 25 St. Clair Ave. W. 11:30 a.m. Featuring a panel of Newstalk 1010’s on-air personalities John Tory, Jerry Agar, John Moore and Kim Geddes. Register by April 5. $45 for members and $60 for non-members. rsvp@thetmba.com. The Riverdale Horticultural Society’s April Meeting, 816 Logan Ave. 7 p.m. Peter Gill,water gardener will present a power point show all about gardening in a variety of containers. All welcome. Free to members. Loyal they remained? Loyalty, identity, and the War of 1812 in Upper Canada, Heritage Toronto, North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St. 7 p.m. Hear Jane Errington, an award winning author and leading scholar of Upper Canada, explore the fascinating issue of how the loyalties of Upper Canadians were challenged and shaped by the War of 1812. Registration required at heritagetoronto.org/lectures or 416-338-1339. Free.
Wednesday, Apr. 10 & Friday, Apr. 19 Collapse — Point of View Doc Series, Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood Rd. N. Apr. 10 at 6:30 p.m., Apr. 19 at 2 p.m. Collapse is the story of Michael Ruppert, former Los Angeles police officer turned rogue reporter whose eerie prediction of the current financial crisis shocked millions. Now Ruppert is warning of a new meltdown. Call 416-394-5247 to register. Free. Thursday, Apr. 11 Fun, Family and Food, Unison Community Health Centre, Bathurst-Finch Hub, 540 Finch Ave. W. 4 p.m. A communityled event aimed at educating and engaging local residents on the many ways they can make healthy choices. The familyfriendly events will feature a variety of local healthy living and eating resources, and fun activities for kids. Free. Cookbook Launch, All The Best Fine Foods, 1101 Yonge St. 5 p.m. Join All The Best Fine Foods and The Cookbook Store to welcome international guests from Terroir Symposium 7 for an in-store meetand-greet and the world premiere of the new book, Cook It Raw by Alessandro Porcelli. Free. Learn to Camp, Brentwood
Public Library, 36 Brentwood Rd. N. 6 p.m. Want to go camping but don’t know where to start? Ontario Parks staff will teach you how, from planning to equipment use. Space is limited. Phone 416-3945240 to register. Free.
The Future of the Book, Spur Festival, 789 Yonge St. 7 p.m. Two dynamic and informed proponents of public access to literature debate what new technologies signal for the book, and consider what else might be under transformation as the centuries-old form loses the weight of its physical pages and covers. Free. Eastminster Choir and Orange Community Master Chorale, Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave. 7 p.m. The Orange Community Master Chorale has a reputation for being one of the finest community choral organizations in Southern California. They have completed four European concert tours, performed at Carnegie Hall, and are now touring Canada. Free. Real Weddings, For Real, Toronto Camera Club, 587 Mount Pleasant Rd. 8 p.m. Get through the routine approaches-get to the real goods. Catherine Farquharson will review techniques and approaches to overcome creative blocks in documenting the expected on the wedding day. $10. Friday, Apr. 12 Toronto Swing Dance Society Dance, Lithuanian House Hall B, 1573 Bloor St. W. 8 p.m. Join us for a fun filled evening of all styles of swing dancing. The night will start off with West Coast Swing lessons by Tom King. Beginners always welcome. No partner required. Members $10, non-members $15. Saturday, Apr. 13 Fundamentals of Business Negotiation for Women — Enhance your Negotiation Skills and Tools, North Toronto Business Professional Women’s Club, 4 Credit Union Dr. 9:30 a.m. Presented by North Toronto Business and Professional Women’s Club this acclaimed workshop by Kathryn Munn LL.B., of Munn Conflict Resolution Services, includes salary negotiation, impasse resolution, getting from no to yes and solutions to conflict. $60–70. Giant Church Rummage Sale, Eglinton St. George’s United. 35 Lytton Blvd. 10 a.m. Items include clothing, jewellery,
housewares, treasures, toys, books, sporting goods, electronics and much, much more.
Spring Sprang Sprung – Family Nature Walk, High Park Nature Centre, 440 Parkside Dr. 1 p.m. Wake up and smell the springtime. Hike the trails of High Park to find the signs of spring. Listen for birds, feel soft mosses, find the bugs as they wake. Come celebrate the season with us. $2/donate what you can. Blue Radish Café Returns, Manor Road United Church, 240 Manor Rd. E. 6:30 p.m. This popular all-ages evening is back. Bring family and friends to experience the local musical talent in the coffee house style. Tickets include snacks and a $10 tax receipt. Adults $20, family $40, under 12 $10. The Healey Willan Singers presents “Espana”, Church of St. Martin in-the-Fields, 151 Glenlake Ave. 8 p.m. Come enjoy an evening of Latin American choral music featuring the Missa Sao Sebastiao by Villa-Lobos, plus music by Casals, Busto and Spanish folk songs. For more information, visit www.healeywillansingers. com. $20 adults, $15 seniors/ students. Starting Saturday, Apr. 13 Tennis, North York Seniors Games, Oriole Park Community Tennis Bubble, Don Mills Rd. 9 a.m. Matches on April 13, 14, 19 and 20, Three age groups. Call Helen to register 416-444-5723. $10. Sunday, Apr. 14 The Liveable City: Visioning the Future During a Time of Growth, St Clement’s Church, 70 St. Clements Ave. 10 a.m. Forty Minute Forum presents Toronto chief city planner Jennifer Keesmaat, known as an advocate of density and walkable communities. Can Toronto be the “liveable” community with the pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods that Keesmaat champions? Free. Spur Festival — Oot and Aboot, Yorkville Public Library, 22 Yorkville Ave. 10 a.m. Join historian and culture critic Stuart Henderson as he walks us into the past to explore Yorkville, a contested territory that was a flashpoint for politicians. $30, $25 students. Register at info@spurfestival.ca. Outdoor Guided Walk: Harbingers of Spring in the Valley, Todmorden Mills Heritage
Site, 67 Pottery Rd. 1:30 p.m. From skunk cabbage to redwinged blackbirds, signs of spring abound in the Don Valley. Refreshments provided after the walk. Adults $5.31, youth/seniors $3, children $2 (plus tax).
Orchestra Toronto Concert, 5040 Yonge St. 3 p.m. Concert master Grace Hong and violist Brenna Whyte are highlighted in pieces by Canadian composer Kevin Lau and Romantic virtuoso Max Bruch. Also featured: Brahms’ last symphony, his No. 4 in E minor, a work of maturity and genius. $14–39. Spur Festival — Vested Interests in Politics, 789 Yonge St. 4 p.m. Do people with money have an undue influence on our political system? Wellinformed panellists bring their expertise and experience to discuss comparative models of political campaign financing in Canada and the United States. spurfestival.ca. $20. Wednesday, Apr. 17 Spring Detox Free Health Talk, Main Street Library, 137 Main St. 7 p.m. Health talk on four seasons of wellness by Kate Whimster, ND. Wondering how to do a healthy detox? Learn about the benefits of detoxification. The Woman Who Changed Her Brain, Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood Rd. N. 7 p.m. Barbara Arrowsmith-Young began life severely learning disabled, but she built herself a better brain and a brain training program that has helped thousands of others do the same. Call 416-394-5247 to register. Free. Lessons from the War of 1812: A Six Nations Perspective, Heritage Toronto, Native Canadian Centre, 16 Spadina Rd. Noon. Richard Hill reveals his research into the impact of the war on several Six Nations communities. Registration required at heritagetoronto.org/ lectures or 416-338-1339. Free. Thursday, Apr. 18 Sweet Talk: Wills, Estate Planning and Power of Attorney, Central Eglinton Community Centre. 160 Eglinton Ave. E. 1:15 p.m. Presenter: F. Zeenath Zeath, Barrister and Solicitor. Dessert: Sassy Fruit Salad. Must register by Apr. 11 and be over 50. Call 416-392-0511 ext. 228 for more info. $5 for non-members. From Script to Panels: Bringing Your Graphic Story to Life, North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St. 7 p.m. This
program explains the steps to turning scripts into graphic novels, including angles, visual representation, light and dark values and composition of panels. Please call 416-395-5639 to register. Free. Friday, Apr. 19 Healthy Living Fair, Christie Gardens, 601 Christie St. 11 a.m. Join us at the Artscape Wychwood Barns for food sampling, fitness demos, hands-on art exhibit, and performance by the Christie Chorale. Get to know the health professionals in the community & pick up helpful hints to reach your healthy living goals. Saturday, Apr. 20 Rummage Sale, Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. 10 a.m. Men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, boutique items, jewellery, housewares, linens, treasures, toys, pictures and more. From the Open Hearth to the Open Air, Gibson House Museum, 5172 Yonge St. 10 a.m. Move your camp ground cooking techniques beyond tinfoil dinners to camp gourmet. Learn the skills 19th century cooks perfected working with fire in open hearth kitchens. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. 416-395-7432. $50. Vendors Needed for Charity Craft Sale, 210 Lesmill Rd. 10 a.m. Are you looking to sell your crafts? We’re hosting a craft and gift show to raise funds for the WaterCan charity. All funds raised for vendor spaces will be donated to this worthy cause. Please e-mail terry.hopkins@collega.com if interested in becoming a vendor. $50. Dystopian Film Festival, Fahrenheit 451 Screening, Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood Rd. N. 2 p.m. Join us for a screening of the film based upon Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, as we celebrate the 2013 Keep Toronto Reading One Book Festival. Free. Cantores Celestes Women’s Choir “Circle of Days”, 432 Runnymede Rd. 7:30 p.m. Faure’s Reuiem and other beautiful choral works. $1,000 given to charity. $20. The Eh!? Trio Spring Concert, Donway Covenant United Church, 230 The Donway W. 7:30 p.m. The Eh?! Trio, with Anne Lederman, Emilyn Stam and James Stephens play great Canadian fiddle traditions, DON VALLEY Page 14
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NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER April 2013
Home&Garden
Organized closets are key Che Perreira Home & Garden
Mornings can be busy. You’ve got to get the kids ready for school, feed the dog, pack lunches and still make it to the office on time. Anything that gets in your way can only add stress to an already jam packed period. So when you’re running around trying to get yourself ready, not being able to find the outfit you want can be a huge problem. That’s why keeping an organized closet can be useful to a person’s daily routine says Sheri Klawitter, a design consultant at California Closets. “You will know when to take things to the dry cleaners, what to wear on a given day … [and] what you no longer need,” Klawitter says. She also says people generally get stressed out when their closets are a mess. “When it looks chaotic, it feels chaotic,” she says. However, with a bit of organization Klawitter says this level of stress can be reduced. “A lot of times it comes down to aesthetics,” she says. “You feel better if your place is orderly.” For those looking to get their closets organized Klawitter offers eight suggestions: 1) Style matters, so does colour Grouping clothes and other items together based on style or colour makes it easier to pick the ideal outfit,
Klawitter says. “It takes less time [because]…you’ll know exactly what to wear and where to find it.” 2) Avoid a shoe frenzy Organizing shoes on shelves or clear boxes are a great way of making them easily accessible says Klawitter. She says it increases the likelihood of finding the right shoes to match your outfit or needs for that given day. 3) If you can’t fold it, don’t hang it It’s recommended that items that cannot be folded be placed in drawers instead, and items that can be folded placed on shelves. Klawitter says this will help preserve precious hanging space for the clothes that need it. 4) Going forward, try going backward Turning all of the hangers the wrong way in a closet can be an excellent organization tool. Klawitter says after the item is worn you should turn the hanger around so you can see what outfits you’re wearing and which one’s you’re not. “This will allow you to clearly identify what has not been worn in a while, and perhaps consider donating or selling [them].” 5) Accessories, please Accessorizing your closet can help save space says Klawitter. Belt, tie, or scarf rack, hampers and slide out baskets are all worthy of consideration as not only do they save space, but they
Che Perreira/town crier
EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE: Sheri Klawitter of California Closets says there are a lot of simple things you can do to cut down on the amount of time you spend looking through a disorganized closet.
declutter your closet as well.
to put things,” she says.
6) Labeling done right Labeling shelves can be particularly useful for those who share a closet, or have others organize their clothes for them, Klawitter says. She says certain clients complain that their maids don’t put their clothes where they prefer them to be. “If you have someone working for you, they would know exactly where
7) Play it by the season Putting clothes aside depending on the season is instrumental in maintaining closet space, Klawitter says. “It helps each person find their daily stuff [for the season] without having to go through unnecessary items.” She also says it helps save time when searching for clothes or other items.
8) Hire a design consultant As a consultant, Klawitter and her colleagues will go to a client’s home and determine the organization system that best fits that person’s needs. “Everyone’s needs are different,” she says. “[We] give them ideas they wouldn’t think of.” Klawitter also says that a consultant can help the find other storage areas in the homes if the closet space is insufficient.
Don Valley Art Club’s spring show and sale coming late April Cont. from Page 13
including Métis, Quebecois, Irish, Cape Breton, Newfoundland and Ontario. Tickets at the church office, or at the door the night of the concert. $20 adults/seniors; $12 students/ children. Sing Me a Song in Yiddish — A Benefit Concert, Toronto Jewish Folk Choir, Winchevsky Centre, 585 Cranbrooke Ave. 7 p.m. Effervescent international singer and dancer Tanya Granovski sings in Yiddish, Hebrew, English and Russian in a lively benefit performance. Evening includes finger foods and other activities. $20 in advance, $25 at door, $50 VIP tickets. folkchoir@hotmail.com. Saturday, Apr. 20–Sunday, Apr. 21 Baby & Kids Spring/Summer Consignment Sale, 150 Kilgour Rd. Declutter and make some money. Shop thousands of
great deals. Seasonal clothing newborn-size 14, shoes, toys and books, gear and accessories.
Saturday, Apr. 20–Saturday, May 4 Willowdale Group of Artists Art Show, North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge St. Saturdays noon-5 p.m., weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The Willowdale Group of Artists presents their annual, juried art show and sale. Free. Sunday, Apr. 21 In Defence of Elitism, St. Clement’s Church, 70 St. Clements Ave. 10 a.m. Forty Minute Forum presents former CBC and NPR broadcaster Eric Friesen making a plea for excellence in the arts and culture, for quality, for a hierarchy of values. Friesen makes a clear distinction between elitism and snobbishness. Free. Family Day ART Event at art
Works art School, 238 Jane St. 2 p.m. Earth Day Re-use Paper Workshop. Learn creative ways to turn old magazines into weaves, decorative coils and paper beads. Collage making inspired by Kurt Schwitters, Carl Beam and Jane Maxwell. $5 per person or $20 per family. Earth Day in the Valley at Todmorden Mills, Todmorden Mills Heritage Site, 67 Pottery Rd. Noon. Help create environmentally friendly artwork. Learn all about owls and what they eat by dissecting a real owl pellet. Tour the Wildflower Preserve to discover the natural habitats of the Don Valley and the impact of industrialization. Free. Monday, Apr. 22 Green Crafts: Sock Animals, S. Walter Stewart Library, 170 Memorial Park Ave. 4 p.m. Celebrated Earth Day by reusing those old socks by turning
them into fantastic animal creations. Ages: 11–18. Call 416396-3975 to register. Free.
Who Remembers? Storytelling, Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood Rd. N. 7 p.m. Host Dan Yashinsky invites three of Toronto’s storykeepers (Maria del Carmen Ordonez, Tutu Ebofin and Leeya Solomon) to share the stories they will not allow to be forgotten. Call 416394-5247 to register. Free. Tuesday, Apr. 23 Wills and Estate Planning, Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood Rd. N. 3 p.m. Edward Olkovich is one of Canada’s leading estate experts. He will simplify what you must do to make a will. Olkovich makes Estate Planning easy, and more importantly, fun. Register at information desk or call 416-394-5247. Free. Pre-retirement Workshop,
North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St. 6 p.m. Are you thinking about retirement? Are you ready? Learn about current trends, phases of retirement, changes that you may experience and factors that may affect your personal plans. Please register by calling 416395-5660. Free. Wednesday, Apr. 24 Scrabble, North York Senior Games, Earl Bales Community Centre, 4169 Bathurst St. 9:30 a.m. Join the North York Senior’s Scrabble event. The goal is participation with a bit of competition thrown in. Call Lynda 416-225-3535 for details. Free. Amica at Bayview’s Spring Fling: April In Paris, 15 Barberry Pl. 1 p.m. Springtime in Paris is like a symphony of colours and charm. Enchant yourself this afternoon with pieces of Paris and celebrate the joie de vivre. Take pleasure
in Parisian-inspired entertainment and treats as prepared by our Chef de Cuisine. A Brave New World, Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood Rd. N. 7 p.m. The Cambrian period and the rise of animals. Speaker: David Rudkin, Royal Ontario Museum. Part of the Our Planet in Focus series presented in partnership with the University of Toronto. Call 416-394-5247 to register. Free. Wednesday, Apr. 24–May 5 The Don Valley Art Club Spring Art Show and Sale, 67 Pottery Rd. Noon. The art show features a wide range of artistic styles from some one hundred artists. Works presented include a variety of original paintings created in multi mediums. Free. www. donvalleyartclub.com. To place your event in our Community Calendar please visit www.mytowncrier.ca.
April 2013 NORTH TORONTO TOWN CRIER
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TownSports
McLuhan Rebels getting ready to run Two-year-old track program has been big success for school Perry King Sports
As the Marshall McLuhan Rebels prep for their outdoor track season, eight members of their squad have been selected to represent Ontario at the second annual Nike Grand Prix Invitational. “We got into the Grand Prix for the first time, it’s a humbling experience,” said Eric Boszin, who is a specialist in the 1,500 metres. “I feel really proud, but you got to control yourself, try not to be too cocky and train hard. “Our motto is ‘Train Hard, Win Easy,’ so we take that seriously.” Taking place at the Varsity Centre at the University of Toronto and featuring the country’s best squads, the Rebels, all of whom are in grade 10, will be co-representing Ontario with a girls’ track squad from Timmins. “Starting from nothing, and we’re here now, I would never expect to be in the Grand Prix, the national level,” said sprinter Michael Peters, “We’re trying to win the overall boys title,
and if we win that, that’ll put us on the map for sure.” These Rebels boys are the definition of an underdog. They will be squaring off against grade 11 and 12 kids at the meet. The kids, despite their disbelief, are sporting some confidence going in. “I never thought we would be able to do it, but our team did win [TDCAA] last year, that was a nice accomplishment,” Boszin said. Marshall McLuhan is not known for its track program, but with the arrival and effort moves by their coach, Jane Marum, the program is blooming. “I love it, and there was no real track program and they let me takeover,” said Marum, who also began coaching a cross-country team that won their first bronze medals in Citys last fall. Marum has been working to unlock the potential in the young kids, and — by recruiting kids in grades 9 and 10 — instill a sporting culture that would last their high school careers. “What I try to do is see something in a kid,” she said. “There’s a high jumper, Jeremy [Kama]. Last year, he didn’t know what he wanted to do, and he wasn’t fast enough to be on the relay team. I was looking at him, at his calves and body type, and said ‘Why don’t we try high jump?’
francis crescia/town crier
NEW ATTITUDE: Marshal McLuhan track coach Jane Marum, left, has helped bring her school’s fledgling track and field program a great deal of success in a short time. This May, eight members will compete in the Nike Grand Prix Invitational at Varsity Stadium.
“He’s a little bit shorter than me, and he jumped over his head.” Kama eventually won his event, and went to OFSAA last year, placing 14th. “[Being on the team] means a lot,” said Peters, a grade 10 student. “Coming from grade 8, nobody thought you’d be hot, you’d be this. “Honestly, I wasn’t even trying out for track. Ms. Marum was introduced to me, she was like ‘You know, you have a great body, you should do this
and do that.’ We ended up winning a championship with 17 people.” The team has grown to over 80 people this year, and at their pre-season practice in the halls of Marshall McLuhan the atmosphere was prime for running. Kids were sprinting through corridors, doing plank exercises, and leaping hurdles. The circuit looked exhausting but these kids kept pushing themselves. With five indoor meets under their belts this winter, the team is ready for
the spring season. And their bond is already strong. “I really love that our team supports each other,” said Lianne WingMartings, “If your family can’t make it or whatnot, then you have your family here, who supports you. “Even they might not know you personally, they’ll still cheer you on.” The school’s first outdoor meet of the season is on Apr. 12 at St. Michael’s College School.
Remembering Tyson To pay tribute to lost player, Metro Toronto Wildcats rename its assistance fund
Perry King Sports
To help remember and pay tribute to budding football phenom Tyson Bailey, the Metro Toronto Wildcats have decided to rename its play assistance fund in his honour. “When you really get slapped in the face with this, when it’s a kid that you know and been talking to who was so excited to be part of what you been working on for 15 years, this type of thing really hits home,” said Wildcats’ president Chuck Richardson. Originally called the SOS fund, it’s intended to supplement the costs for kids who can’t afford to play football. It was started in 2012 by junior varsity coach Ed Babin, who gave a base amount of $10,000 that must be matched
through fundraising initiatives. The family was fully supportive of the name change. “The Bailey family knew about it because Tyson had been telling them about it, he was coming to play for the Wildcats,” Richardson said. “He was going to be a big part of our program, so they knew about us.” The fund was created in 2012 by junior varsity coach Ed Babin, who gave a base amount of $10,000. That money, which must be matched through fundraising initiatives, is available to dedicated Wildcats players who need the funds for equipment and other expenses. Bailey, who became the starting running back as a grade 10 student with the Central Tech Blues, also played football for the Wildcats, and was poised to play in this summer’s Ontario Varsity Football League season and beyond. Bailey was killed in his Regent Park neighbourhood Jan. 18, shot several times while visiting a friend. The case is still under investigation. But, all the Wildcats prefer to remember Bailey in life, rather than death.
photo courtesy metro toronto wildcats
NEW NAME: Tyson Bailey’s family, including mother Christina Scott, second from right, joined with Ed Babin, back left, Cathy Rober and Chuck Richardson to announce the renaming of the Metro Toronto Wildcats’ SOS fund to honour Bailey — who was killed in January.
“There was something pretty special about this kid,” Richardson said. “Tyson, when you were just around this kid, he just exudes qual-
ity. He was a confident kid, such a happy kid, extremely polite, just a real positive air around him.”
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