Toronto Today - February 2012

TT

oRONTO oday

Has Ford sparked a new

CIVIC ACTIVISM?

The housing shortage

FOR MILLIONAIRES

February 2012

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Contents

Vice President of Finance

Doreen Iannuzzi

Vice President of New Media

EDITORIAL Eric McMillan EDITOR-in-chief

Rodger Burnside MANAGING EDITOR

Brian Baker

sports editor

Shadi Raoufi

EDITORIAL ART DIRECTOR

Karolyn Coorsh Gordon Cameron Shawn Star

Here’s an issue for our city’s critics

L

ike most Torontonians, I have relatives across Canada who like nothing better than to rail against Toronto. How can you live there?

They ask as if it’s incomprehensible that I could. Toronto’s so busy, so unfriendly, so expensive, so dangerous, so stuck-up. You wine-sipping, cycling, pseudo-sophisticated pinkos who think you’re the centre of the universe....

Oh, wait, that’s what Torontonians say about each other. Many of our external critics have taken heart recently from the seeming revolt of the suburbs, led by our new mayor, against the central and downtown Toronto politics and lifestyles.

This magazine, which is directed toward midtown Toronto residents, covers these political squabbles that divide our diverse reidents. In this issue we’re looking at one outcome of the recent political upheaval: the engagement of our citizenry.

Certainly that’s got to be a positive for Toronto — so many of us care about our city’s future.

The feature on our high and low-

Associate EDITORS

PRODUCTION SERVICES Tony Lomuto Supervisor Production

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THE NEW CIVIC ACTIVISM: Is it a gamechanging movement or a passing phase?

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MAMA PLAYS DRUMS: Family rock band, the Argues, aren’t just playing in the basement

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THE BEST IN TOWN: Your choices as the favourite businesses in Toronto.

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ALL YOU CAN TASTE: So many dishes to sample at Riz North on Yonge Street.

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AUSSIE RULES FOOTBALL RULES: Toronto Dingos celebrate 15 years.

Plus lots more...

On the cover: Midtown’s fab foursome the Argues Photos by Mathieu Yuill, illustration by Eric McMillan/Toronto Today

end housing problems plays into a certain critical view of Toronto. But we have to deal with this problem.

But Toronto Today also covers all the people and things that make this city so livable: our interesting (and friendly) neighbours, our arts, our gardens, our places to eat and play, our sports and schools.

If you want to send a copy to your relatives, please feel free. TT

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FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY

News&Opinion

Don’t blink Civic engagement at the local level is growing and much of it is thanks to controversy

A

By Karolyn Coorsh

familiar scene played out the morning council was set to vote on the most controversial budget in years.

Outside in the rain, dozens of parents, kids in tow, marched in a circle, chanting in a lastditch effort to save their neighbourhood pools from funding cuts.

It wouldn’t be the only protest outside city hall that day.

Hours later, as budget talks continued to unfold, a massive group of protesters mobilized outside. Larger in scale, this group was also intent on being heard.

It’s demonstrations like these that have played out in neighbourhoods across Toronto in recent months — a signal to some that Toronto is taking on a new level of civic interest.

Mayor Rob Ford and his decidedly rightwing administration have successfully galvanized an entire city into the wonderful world of local politics, residents, pundits and politicians say sardonically. But whether that momentum will sustain itself remains to be seen.

The interest has been growing for some time now, says political gadfly Jonathan Goldsbie. The municipal issues journalist

TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

traces the citizenry’s political awakenings in the era of Ford to the spring of 2011, when a firestorm erupted at city hall following an audit report of inappropriate employee spending at Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

Residents, news outlets and bloggers tuned in to a March council meeting that ultimately resulted in the replacement of the entire board by a Ford-appointed managing director.

That spirit of civic engagement remained, Goldsbie says, adding much of it has been fostered by the addition of non-mainstream media that disseminates info from inside the Queen Street Clamshell.

“There’s just a much more general day-today interest on the things that go on at city hall, partly because it’s such an ongoing shitshow,” he said.

A July meeting of executive committee also marked a turning point, Goldsbie says.

On July 28, hundreds of citizens descended on city hall to weigh in on the city’s core services at a public meeting that lasted through the night.

“That was exhilarating, that was unlike anything I’d seen or experienced at city hall or around municipal politics,” Goldsbie says.

“Suddenly, we’re seeing a mass of people, who

all find this not just as important and vital but also as entertaining and fun and crazy.”

This scenario repeated itself in September, when the matter of core services returned to committee, and then again in December, after budget’s launch.

Given opportunity to speak directly to politicians, a broad spectrum of people came out to register their voice, says Goldsbie, who refutes the claim by some that the onslaught of public attention was merely coming from union hacks or special interest groups.

“I am pretty confident in saying people were there of their own volition, and many took the time out to specifically state that,” he said.

One such person was Hillcrest father of two Andrew Brenton, who took time out from running his investment firm to speak at December budget consultations.

Brenton urged councillors to reconsider

“People find this not just as important and vital, but also as entertaining.”

cost-sharing program cuts at Hillcrest Community School, where his daughter attends class.

“This is something that I knew about,” he said in an interview with **Toronto Today**.

“I don’t know all the issues the city had to deal with in terms of budget cuts.”

Brenton admits he doesn’t follow municipal politics all that closely, and his decision to speak out came from one influencer: his daughter.

“I think because I work downtown and I have an investment firm, I think (my kids) just assume that I would vote for Rob Ford, so it became an issue when all of this was happening, (my daughter) just looked at me and said ‘can you do anything?’ So I put my name in to make a deputation.

“I’d never done one before.”

It wasn’t surprising to see the mobilization of a wide cross-section of citizens, given the breadth of budget cuts proposed, says David Wolfe, a political science professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

“If (Mayor Ford) had said ‘I’m going to cut $90 million out of one program, you might not have got the same reaction.”

That being said, Toronto has a well-documented history of grassroots activism, Wolfe says. He points to the Stop Spadina movement in the ’60s and reaction to amalgamation in 1997.

“Toronto does have a culture and tradition of fairly active citizen involvement and engagement — it tends to be much stronger on a neigh-

bourhood basis,” he said.

It also tends to ebb and flow in Toronto, Wolfe says, depending on the news of the day.

In contrast, Vancouver has a sustained culture of electoral engagement, Wolfe says, while Montreal tends to have a high level of civic participation because it’s a built-in component of local institutions.

But it’s also important to note what wasn’t captured on camera or in the paper during the budget and core service review demonstrations, Wolfe says, as the public tends to get a skewed view of dissent or support.

“You never see the full range of political

positions and opinions represented through lobbying efforts,” Wolfe says. “Lobbying only brings out a selected group of more active, engaged citizens.”

The attention on local politics is not likely to diminish any time soon, thanks in part to a rogue mayor who seems hell-bent on shaking things up.

Ford is just 14 months into a four-year term, and prior to budget’s launch, council was already knee-deep in ongoing controversial issues, including a likely labour stoppage, and the death and possible resurrection of Transit City.

Stay tuned. TT

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For rich or for poor Examining Toronto’s disparate housing crisis omar mosleh/toronto today

O

MIXED MESSAGES: Street nurse Cathy Crowe stands outside an abandoned home formerly owned by prominent businessman William Dineen. She says it is slated for demolition, even though she can’t remember the last time affordable housing was built in the downtown area.

By Omar Mosleh

n an unseasonably warm January day, street nurse Cathy Crowe stares up at an abandoned Victorianera building on Sherbourne Street. As more than 80,000 requests for a subsidized home languish on Toronto Community Housing’s waiting list, the suggestions “Should be housing” and “Should be demolished” are scrawled on the red-bricked property’s boarded-up windows.

The decrepit former home of prominent Canadian businessman William Dineen at 230 Sherbourne St. is more than 100 years old. It seems at one point the building was being leased, but the “For Rent” sign advertising the furnished bachelor units is so faded it’s hard to read what it says.

There is, however, a legible City of Toronto notice directly above it.

“It’s been vacant for a couple years and now it looks like they’ve got a demolition notice up there,” Crowe points out. “If Rob Ford gets his way, we’ll lose more housing.”

She’s referring to the 675 Toronto Community

Housing properties city staff recommended for the city to sell on the open market to generate funds for the housing agency’s roughly $650 million repair backlog.

Shortly after Crowe expresses her fears of walking up the building’s dilapidated, squeaky stairs, a man inserts himself into the conversation.

He identifies himself as a local resident.

“I’ve heard they’re planning on tearing it down to build condos,” quips McLean Benjamin, who lives just down the street at 200 Sherbourne St. “We don’t need more condos around here. We need housing.”

As if prompted by his words, it’s only moments before Crowe and Benjamin have to fend off a homeless man pleading for change. It’s no surprise. After all, the corner of Sherbourne and Dundas streets is what Crowe calls the “epicenter of Toronto’s homeless disaster.”

Crowe, who wrote a book on the subject entitled Dying for a Home, has worked in the area

as a nurse specializing in care for the homeless for more than 20 years. She can’t remember the last time an affordable housing unit was built here.

But only a few street lights away, along Sherbourne and King streets south of Richmond Street, condominium development is booming.

According to John Pasalis of brokerage Realosophy Realty, Toronto has 132 current high-rise condo projects under construction — more than any other city in North America, including New York, which has 86.

The Toronto real estate market is hot in other parts of the city as well, serving as a magnet for international investors and developers. In 2011, home sales soared by 17.5 percent compared to the previous year in the Greater Toronto Area.

“There are a lot of economists and others who have been saying, on the ownership side, that house prices in Toronto have been defying gravity and the trend in the United States and many parts of Europe where the markets are basically collaps-

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TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

ing right across the spectrum,” noted Michael Shapcott, director of affordable housing and social innovation at the Wellesley Institute, a non-profit urban health think-tank.

“The Toronto housing market, on the ownership side, has remained relatively robust,” he added.

In particular, there’s a growing interest in ultra-luxurious homes in midtown Toronto, specifically those in the range of $2.5 million and greater.

“We are seeing certainly more international buyers buying these higher-end homes,” said Andy Taylor, a broker at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada.

“My partner and I have dealt with more international buyers in the $2.5 million and above range in the past year than we have in the past four years.”

Taylor proposes several reasons as to why Toronto is seen as an attractive place for investors: the perceived stability of the economy, a high standard of living, good education, and what is seen as a strong, reliable banking system.

In the last six months of 2011, there were 102 sales of luxury properties in the Multiple Listing Service’s C12 zone, which includes highly desired midtown neighbourhoods such as Rosedale, Forest Hill and the Bridle Path.

That’s up from 72 in the same period in 2010.

“That’s a fairly strong number,” said Taylor, in reference to 2011’s statistic.

The high demand for luxurious properties in midtown’s upscale neighbourhoods has spurred a bidding war, with increasing real estate prices, and properties selling for more than their asking price at times.

“We had one listing in the Wanless Park area and it was listed at $899,000, and we sold for (more than) a million, with 12 offers, because there’s a demand to be in that location,” Taylor said.

A home in the Casa Loma neighbourhood recently sold $425,000 over the asking price.

Despite the interest, developers are not necessarily fulfilling the demand for luxurious properties. A current inventory of real estate worth more than $2 million in the C12 zone, not including condos, shows 43 properties.

That’s less than what is desired, Taylor says.

“I think there’s probably more than 43 people looking (for homes in the $2 million plus range) ... My feeling is right now it’s a good market we’re in,” he said.

While lavish homes are being scooped up from midtown’s tony neighbourhoods at an ever-accelerating rate, Toronto’s housing disparity grows larger.

At the end of Dec. 2011, there were a record 82,138 requests for a home on Toronto Community Housing’s centralized waiting list. With an average of 280-300 requests being fulfilled each month, the waiting time for a subsidized home in Toronto is more than 23 years.

“Every single month for more than two years, they’ve set a new record,” Shapcott said. “Despite this, more and more people are signing up because there’s a desperate shortage of affordable housing.”

A number of recent developments further complicate what Crowe refers to as Toronto’s housing crisis.

Toronto Community Housing has pledged to find homes for the displaced families residing in the 675 properties, which contain 740 units. Shapcott says this will result in a longer waiting list because they are to be given first priority.

He likens the move to an act of desperation to generate funds for the struggling housing agency.

“It’s kind of like if you’re a homeowner and can’t pay the mortgage, and decide ‘Well, I’m going to sell my driveway or the top floor of my house,’” Shapcott said. “What they’re doing is cannibalizing their housing stock in order to pay the bills.”

Many Toronto Community Housing homes are in desperate need of repair.

Benjamin at 200 Sherbourne St. knows this well. He’s lived in his building since Cityhome, also known as the City of Toronto Non-Profit Housing Corporation, previously managed it. He says over the years, it’s steadily grown worse: his apartment has been broken into three times and is full of black mould after a drug war caused a flood on the first floor.

“My apartment, from the bottom of my bathroom right to my door is all mould,” he said. “I’ve been trying to get them to move me for about two years, they won’t move me. I’ve been stabbed in the lobby, they still won’t move me.”

The reason, he’s told, is the waiting list.

But rather than repair or replace their current housing stock, Shapcott CONTINUED Page 8

“They’re ... cannibalizing their housing stock in order to pay the bills.”

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Business

Cont. from Page 7

says the city almost exacerbated the problem with a recent proposal to close down three homeless shelters, including one for men with addictions and one for elderly women with mental health issues. City council rejected the proposal.

“This is good news ... because these are people who obviously cannot move into any kind of private housing, they don’t have the resources, they’re sick, they’re elderly, they’re poor,” Shapcott said.

“If the proposal had gone through, people who desperately need those beds to make the transition from living in homeless shelters to affordable housing would simply just be stuck back in the regular population and it would be bad for everyone concerned,” he added.

Toronto also faces a shortage of purpose-built rental units. While there was much government incentive to build rental buildings in the 1970s and 1980s, construction of rental units has slowed significantly.

“In the last 10 years it’s been pretty stagnant,” Shapcott said.

According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s December market survey, there were about 5,000 private rental units available, which Shapcott contends is quite low for a city of 2.5 million.

While many condo units are being privately rented, the rent is generally significantly higher than purpose-built rental units.

“Everybody looks to the condos as being a safety valve ... the condominiums are not going

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TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

to save rental housing,” Shapcott said.

Furthermore, the city’s affordable housing office, which facilitates development of new subsidized units, received a 10 percent cut. This will be somewhat offset by a motion by Ward 20 councillor Adam Vaughan that allows Toronto Community Housing to keep property tax savings it realized in 2011 rather than have it count as part of the city’s general revenue.

“Toronto Community Housing says it will find somehow someway in this budget to absorb that,” Shapcott said. “But what it definitely means is we’re not going to be seeing any new housing development.”

Shapcott said there’s no question the combined factors of lack of housing, selling off TCHC homes, and the cut to the affordable housing budget will coalesce into more people living on the street, which adds additional pressure to Toronto’s housing, shelter, healthcare and prison systems.

The polarity in the Toronto housing market will affect the average Torontonian in several ways. On the positive side, the increased demand for property in Toronto means the average home is slowly but surely increasing in value.

“Based on what we’ve seen in the past few years, certainly prices are increasing slowly,” Taylor said.

On the not-so-positive side, the potential increase in homelessness will result in a larger burden for the taxpayer as more people are sent to hospitals and prisons.

Shapcott also believes Toronto’s income gap will make itself more visible across the city.

“It’s going to be obvious not just in the poor neighbourhoods, but it’s going to be obvious throughout Toronto that we’re living in an increasingly divided city,” he said.

Crowe says the only way to solve the issue of affordable housing in Toronto is to re-establish a national affordable housing program like the one that was eliminated in 1993.

Provincial money would also help. Currently, social housing subsidies in the 905 regions are paid for by the provincial income tax.

“Unlike Peel or York or Durham or the rest of the 905, Toronto continues to see its subsidy to affordable housing come off the property tax bill, whereas in the 905 the subsidy for affordable housing is paid for by the provincial government,” Shapcott noted.

The City of Toronto website currently lists 10 affordable rental projects under construction. Seven are in the city’s core, while the other three are scattered uptown. Shapcott says this is a step in the right direction.

“We’ve got to see this situation where we’re not just building (affordable housing) downtown, but we’re building in midtown, in the outer suburbs, and so on,” he said.

The good news is the provincial and federal governments recently agreed to commit roughly $108

million in affordable housing funds to Toronto over four years.

But there’s still a long way to go. Back at Sherbourne and Dundas Streets, walking with Crowe is like taking a stroll down the boulevard of broken dreams. She points out several current or former federal buildings that she and other activists have unsuccessfully tried to get converted to housing, such as the Grand Hotel and Moss Park Armoury.

Outside the Salvation Army on Sherbourne Street, the homeless folk sitting on heated vents form an odd juxtaposition with the luxurious high rises popping up to the north and south.

To Crowe, the problem isn’t going away any time soon.

“The sad part is it’s getting worse,” Crowe said.

“And there are still people who don’t understand the depths of suffering and hunger in our city.”

Benjamin understands. The mould in his apartment has caused him a fungal infection. It’s come to the point where his doctor says he needs to move out as soon as possible, because black mould releases neurotoxins and can be lethal. He has a chronic cough and frequently experiences headaches.

But there are simply no units available. Standing outside the William Dineen house, he stares wideeyed in disbelief when he learns Toronto is building more condos than any city in North America — while only 10 affordable housing projects are underway, and 80,000 strong continue to wait on a list.

“I think they’re just letting people down,” he says with a shake of his head. “I’m basically on my death bed here ... but I don’t want to live in a jail cell, you know?” TT

Arts&Entertainment

Argue -ably the best

mathieu yuill/toronto today

ALL IN THE FAMILY: The Argues, named after their own surname, are keeping true to the idea of a family band. Mom Chantale plays drums, dad Michael plays guitar, while younger daughter Sabrina, left, plays keys and Lauren plays bass. Both Lauren and Sabrina also do the vocals.

Family fourpiece is more than just mama’s and papa’s

B

By Mathieu Yuill

lues and ’70s rock ’n roll have a certain grit and grime to them that is a distinctively different sound from today’s Top 40. Vocalists who have been down in the dumps and on top of the world bring more than words to this type of music — they bring the raw pain and true delight based on life experience to bring the songs alive.

Rockie Raccoons, a bar at Yonge and Eglinton, has such live music on Saturday nights. On this particular evening, the four-piece band is working through its set of blues and rock. The lead singer has called up a range of emotion and is soulfully injecting it into every note. You can only imagine what trials and tribulations she must have gone through to deliver lyrics with such rawness.

But you do really have to imagine.

Because the lead singer is 11.

Sabrina and her 14-year-old sister, Lauren, share lead vocals in their band, The Argues.

Their father, Michael, plays guitar and their mother, Chantale, plays drums in the band that carries their last name.

“As soon as the kids were born we started

singing together,” Michael Argue says. “When the kids got old enough to play, we gave them instruments. Lauren got the bass and Sabrina the keys.”

Six years ago the family sold their fivebedroom house in Pickering and moved into a two-bedroom bungalow rental at Avenue and Lawrence to be closer to the city so they could fully commit their family’s efforts to the band’s success. And the move seems to be working.

“We started by just playing in our basement and our neighbour heard us and asked if we would play at a street party,” Michael says. “We played another neighbour’s 50th birthday party and that led to a corporate gig playing a Mr. Sub franchise opening.

“Last year we played 25 shows, including Parry Sound’s Canada Day festival and Lobsterfest in Pointe Au Baril,” he added.

At those two shows alone, the Argues performed for nearly 10,000 people.

When they first started booking gigs in bars, Chantale would put Lauren and Sabrina to bed right after school and then wake them up at 10 p.m. in preparation for their sets, which some-

times went as late as 2 a.m.

The parents insist starting a family band wasn’t part of some master plan to help keep their children on the straight and narrow under their watchful eye. Michael says it was a natural phenomenon.

“The more we played together the more it just seemed to feel right,” he says. “We would write a song together, perform it live and get great feedback. Things kept falling into place and it has never been calculated.

“This is something everyone seemed to be doing even in their off time,” Michael added.

“You would hear one of the girls playing their guitar in their room while the other worked on lyrics at the dining room table.”

CONTINUED Page 10

“The more we played together the more it just seemed to feel right.”

FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY

mathieu yuill/toronto today

HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES: Above, 11-year-old Sabrina is right on key, while older sister, Lauren, 14, holds down the bass and adds her own vocal mix.

Cont. from Page 10

Indeed, music has always woven itself through the family’s lives.

Chantale and Michael met one summer while Michael was working as a lifeguard at the pool in Chantale’s condo. He courted her under the veil of teaching her guitar by the poolside.

It would be a mistake to believe the band is just a dream of mom and dad while the kids are along only for the ride before they’re old enough to ditch the nightly two-hour practice sessions and start doing their own thing.

“I dream of getting bigger and bigger,” Sabrina says. “I want the band to get better known. This is what I want to do for a living.”

In fact, Lauren does a lot of the songwriting and figures out much of the music on guitar during the summer at the family cabin.

“I like it,” Lauren says of the solace of their log cabin island.

The Argues built the cabin themselves on a tiny island three hours north of Toronto and spend most of the summer there. It’s much cozier now than the year they built it.

10 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

That initial summer they had only a 100 sq. ft. bunkie to sleep in. They cooked their meals over an open flame.

And due to the construction, even the old outhouse had been torn down, leaving them a rock to use as their bathroom.

An unusual experience, sure, but then again Lauren and Sabrina aren’t your average children, either.

Lauren, for example hasn’t read Harry Potter but she did just finish reading a book about Keith Richards.

And last summer, Sabrina received a backstage pass to a World Vision charity concert, saw Tom Cochrane and introduced herself. He had actually heard of their band and recognized her from her picture on the family’s band website.

For all of their experiences, Chantale says spending so much time together does have its drawbacks. The basement practice space for The Argues has been soundproofed.

“And that’s a really good thing,” she says. “Because sometimes our band name is more of a verb.” TT

www.MyTownCrier.ca

WHO DO YOU THINK ARE THE BEST IN TOWN www.MyTownCrier.ca

4th. Annual

WHO DO YOU THINK ARE THE BEST IN TOWN

Best In Town Best In Town 4th. Annual

At last, the winners—as chosen by you

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into the larger group. Yet, year after year we find our readers express ever greater identification with their local areas.

The small and medium-sized businesses serving local residents are important elements in the cohesion of our neighbourhoods. It’s apparent from the eagerness with which residents have taken up the task of recognizing the folks they do business with on a regular basis that they too share this appreciation.

On the following pages are listed the most popular choices, all 269 of them who placed first (winning gold), second (silver) or third (bronze) in their categories.

BEST I

For four years now readers of the Town Crier community newspapers, sister publication of Toronto Today, have selected their favourite local businesses — who receive recognition of the honour in our pages and with certificates to display in their stores and offices.

But this past year has been a little different. We’ve received thousands of votes and generous comments from readers — more than in any previous year.

Toronto’s long been known as a city of neighbourhoods.

Every now and then, someone predicts the demise of the communities that make up this metropolis, as they get submerged

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FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 11

BEST GENERAL CONTRACTOR First .............................................................Modular Home Additions Second...........................................W.C. Meek Design & Construction Third ...................................................................The Robinson Group

APPLIANCE

Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roofing Authority SINCE 1922 Specializing In:

First ...............................................................................Future Shoppe Second .........................................................................................Tasco Third ....................................................................Caplanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Appliances

FLOORING First ..............................................................................Dominion Rug Second ............................................................................................Elte Third ....................................................................................Allan Rug

FURNITURE

s 3HINGLE 2E 2OOl NG s &LAT 2OOl NG s #EDAR 3HAKE 2OOl NG s -AINTENANCE 2EPAIRS s 3LATE AND 4ILE 2OOl NG s 2OOF 4UNE UPS s #USTOM #OPPER -ETAL 7ORK s 3NOW AND )CE 2EMOVAL s !LUMINUM 3OFl T &ASCIA and Eavestrough

First ........................................................................................ Stickley Second .............................................................. Urban Barn - Leaside Alfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Antiques Third ................................................................ Cornerstone Furniture

Thank you for voting us Best Roofer in Town for 3 years in a row!

First ...................................................... Leaside Plumbing & Heating Second ............................................................................. Laird & Son Third .................................. Dave White Heating & Sheet Metal Ltd.

DOOR/WINDOWS First ......................................................... Pella Windows on Bayview Second ....................................................... Ridley Windows & Doors Third ................................. Dundas West Wood Windows Specialties

HEATING/AIR

BLINDS/CURTAINS First ....................................................................................... Redrawn Blinds to Go Second ..................................................................... Parallele Interiors Sunshades Third ................................................................ Allure Window DĂŠcor Mayfair Drapery

BATHROOM RENOVATOR

&OR A &REE %STIMATE #ALL

WWW DOMINIONROOl NG COM 12 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

First .................................................................................... Bath Fitter Second .................................................. Splashworks Kitchen & Bath Third ........................................................................ Instyle Bathroom

KITCHENS First ..................................................................... Davenport Kitchens Second ............................................................. Zoran Kitchen & Bath Third .............................................. Marana Kitchen & Home Design

LANDSCAPING First ......................................................................................... Boliger Second ................................................................... Sheridan Nurseries Third ...................................................... Ontario Landscaping Assoc.

LIGHTING First ..............................................................................Royal Lighting Second ........................................................ Eric & Susan Lampshade Third ......................................................... Rom Ela Antique Lighting

PAINT/WALLPAPER First ............................................................................... Nabor’s Paint Second ............................................................................. Home Depot West Toronto Paint & Wallpaper Third .......................................................... Upper Canada Decorating Pro Glow Leaside Paint Centre

PLUMBER First ...........................................................................................Shanks Second ..........................................................................Way Plumbing Third ................................................................. Mike Parker Pluming ..

ROOFING

First ....................................................................... Dominion Roofing Second ............................................................................. Peter Walker E. W. Smith Roofing Third .............................................................................. Avenue Road

Thank You For Voting DAWSON DENTAL

‘Best Of Toronto Poll’

Come visit our showroom with over 15,000 samples to choose from.

Aubusson rugs, old world vegetable dye rugs, Tibetan rugs, custom rugs.

dominion rug 3420 YONGE STREET, TORONTO tel (416) 485-9488

dominionrug@rogers.com • www.dominionrug.com

‘Thank you for voTing us besT in Town and Download our New Patient Guidee at at DawsonDental.caa Expires March 31, 2012

we look forward To serving you even beTTer in our new expanded

416.353.8444

showroom on

Dawson Dental Centre - Rosedale

52 samor rd.

365 Bloor Street East Toronto, ON (inside Rosedale Wellness Centre)

in spring of 2012’.

Scan here with your Smart Phone to visit our website. New to QR codes? Visit our web site at DawsonDental.ca to download a free app.

FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 13

E.W. SMITH ROOFING est 1979 o

umers’ C ns ward ™hoi A

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* 2007 - 2010 *

ART GALLERY First .................................................................................. Art Interiors Second ............................................................................... Latitude 44 Third ......................................................................... Petroff Galleries

MAID SERVICES First ............................................................................... Toronto Maid Second ............................................................................ Merry Maids Third ........................................................................................ Mosaic

HOME THEATRE • Shingles • Flat Roofs • Eavestrough • Skylights • Roof Repairs • Fully Insured & Reliable • Work Guaranteed • Job clean & Neat

Thank you Town Crier readers for voting us one of the best Roofing Companies in Toronto

call 416-467-7663 Now is the time for ROOF INSpEcTION

First ...................................................................... Mt. Pleasant Stereo Second .............................................................. Brentview Electronics Third ........................................................................ Aireon TV Video Great Metropolitan Sound

VET CLINIC First ..................................................... Davisville Park Animal Clinic Second ................................................. Yonge Street Animal Hospital Bloor West Village Animal Hospital Third ............................................................... Leaside Animal Clinic

LAW FIRM First ........................................................................ Linette & Timmis Second ................................................................................ Colt Lorne Third ................................................................................ Ledgel Law Dashwood & Dashwood

Serving the community since 1987

“Thank You for your support and voting Ashford Cleaners one of the Best in Toronto”

Trust Your Precious Cleaning To Us Experienced & Committed Professionals We offer pickup & delivery www.ashfordcleaners.com 535 Eglinton Ave. West

416-322-3127

* Alterations and all work done on premises.

14 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

DRY CLEANERS First ................................................................................ Cheeseworth Second ................................................................ Kew Beach Cleaners Eco Cleaners Third ........................................................................ Ashford Cleaners

FUNERAL HOME First ............................................................ Humphrey Funeral Home Second ......................................................... Heritage Funeral Centre Ogden Funeral Homes Third ........................................................................... Paul O’Connor Highland Funeral

TRAVEL AGENCY First ................................................................................ Belair Travel Second ............................................................................. Mosaic Tour Third ..................................................................... Carlson Wagon Lit Senior Tours Canada

Give the joy of linGerie this

JEWELLERY

valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day

First ......................................................................... Linda Penwarden Second .................................................................. Stonefox Jewellery Third ............................................................................. Eko Jewellery Saati Fine Jewellery

LINGERIE First .............................................................. Secrets from your Sister Second ...................................................................... Fantasy Lingerie Tres Jolie Third ..................................................................... Kathrynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lingerie Cupidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boutique

1759 Avenue Road 416-782-6632

MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CLOTHING First ............................................................................... The Coop Ink Second ............................................................................... The Source Third ....................................................................................... Jeromes Korryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clothiers

WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CLOTHING First ................................................................................. Mode Suzan Second ......................................................................... Black Daffodil Poor Little Rich Girl Third ............................................................ Second Nature Boutique

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank you Town Crier readers for voting us Silver in the Best in Town Awardsâ&#x20AC;?

CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CLOTHING First ................................................................................. Bean Sprout Second ................................................................................ Little Lola Third ........................................................................ Marmalada Skies

DANIEL et DANIEL 248 Carlton Street, Toronto P: 416.968.9275 | www.danieletdaniel.ca

Come in and WatCh a Leaf game and you CouLd Win a PaiR of Leaf tiCKetS in an eXCLuSiVe BoX! CATCH ALL THE LIVE ACTION FOR THE 3)8 .!4)/.3 25'"9 !4 4(% &/8 weekly Specials!

` 7INGS AFTER PM 7EEKEND "RUNCH FROM AM TO PM ALL Your FAVourIte SPortS IN hi-DeF! ,EAFS 46 3ETANTA 5&# 2APTORS 46

"OXING .&, 3UNDAY 4ICKET

CheCk out our New MeNu! ASK ABOUT OUR EXTENSIVE CATERING MENU ,AIRD $RIVE AT -C2AE s 4 WWW FOXANDlDDLE COM

FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 15

An Oasis in Leaside for 20 Years…

Thank you for again voting us the Best Skin Care in Town!

2011

2010

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Jessica, Nancy & Amber

• Facials • Cosmetic Tattooing • Hair Removal • Manicures • Eyelash Extensions • Gift Certificates • Pedicures • Electrolysis & More!!

Absolute Beauty

By Nancy Penny

Open 7 days a week 1517A Bayview Ave., 2nd Floor

416-932-3970

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US THE BEST HEALTH CENTRE.

CHILDREN’S SHOE First .............................................................................................. Olly Second ........................................................................... Adrian’s Shoe Third .............................................................................. Spoiled Baby

SHOE STORES First ............................................................................................ Balisi Nature’s Footware Second ....................................................................... Ron White Shoe Walking on a cloud Third ................................................................................ Get Outside

SPORTING GOODS First ............................................................................... Sporting Life Second ...................................................................... Sign of the Skier Third ........................................................................ Game Set Match

TOY STORE First ....................................................... Mastermind Eductional Toys Second ....................................................................... Treasurer Island Third ..................................................................................... Toytown Oink Oink

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SURREY MEDICAL HEALTH CENTRE 1703 VICTORIA PARK AVENUE SCARBOROUGH, CANADA M1R 1R9 416-751-6141

First .............................................................................. Mables Fables Second ................................................................................... Chapters Third .............................................................................. Ella Minnow

GIFT STORE First ............................................................................. Jacaranda Tree Second ............................................................... Whatever Lola Wants Windergardens Third ............................................................................ Trinity Gallery Urban Nature Store

Enjoy The Fine Tastes Of Greece

Thank You for voting us one of the Best Greek Restaurant in Town!

2048 Avenue Road

(just north of Dunblaine Avenue)

Tel: 416-483-3846 www.karbouzi.com

Take-Out / Dine-In / Catering

16 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

HEALTH First ...................................................................... Sunnybrook Health Second ........................................................................ Surrey Medical Third ........................................................ Regional Nursing Services

SPA First ................................................................................. Healthwinds Second ....................................................................... The Village Spa Third .................................................................................... Glow Spa

FITNESS CLUB First ................................................................ Get Fit in 30 Min Gym Second ................................................................................... Goodlife Third ................................................................................... Circuit Fit

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where Trust and Service is our Traditionâ&#x20AC;?

25% off SAATI FINE JEWELLERY ALL ITEmS Proven Quality since 1968

â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

Custom made Jewellery Jewellery modification & restoration Free Jewellery Cleaning Watch battery replacement & repairs On site repairs & appraisals (gemmologists on site)

Thank You to all the readers who voted us one of the Best in 2011

512 Mount Pleasant Rd. 416.361.0296

FLOWER SHOP First ...................................................................... Mt Pleasant Flower Second ....................................................................................... Midge The Flower Nook Third ............................................................................. Passion Fruits

HAIR SALON First ....................................................... Mad Factory Boutique Salon Second ................................................................... Fiorio on Bayview Third ................................................................................Anh Nguyen Flaunt

BARBER SHOP First ............................................................ Corallo Hair Care Centre Second ................................................................ Benny Bar ber Shop Third ................................................................... Tonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Barber Shop

Smart. And beautiful.

Eric

Susan

Custom Lampshade Makers Custom Lampshade Sale!

25% off

custom shades made with in-stock frames or fabric 590 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto ON M4S 2M8 416-482-0282 www.eric-susan.com

Up to 50% of a homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heating and cooling energy is lost through its windows.

Hunter Douglas EnergySmart Manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rebate

With the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;honeycomb-within-ahoneycombâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; construction and three insulating air pockets, DuetteÂŽ ArchitellaÂŽ honeycomb shades increase energy efficiency.

Visit a participating dealer from January 1st to April 30th 2012 for more information about the Hunter Douglas EnergySmart Manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rebate.

ph 416-481-7207

fax 416-481-7208

www.paralleleinteriors.com

E X T R A O R D I N A RY Â W I N D O W FA S H I O N S

Thank you for voting us one of the best blinds and curtains company in Toronto!

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y 1717 Bayview Ave Toronto, ON M4G 3C5

Scan with a smartphone to view video.

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Inside. And out.

SILVER AWARD 2011

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FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 17

RETIREMENT CENTRE

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!PPLIES TO IN STORE PRODUCTS ONLY $OES NOT APPLY TO CONTACT LENSES 3EE STORE FOR DETAILS

/VER $ISCOUNT /UTLETS /NE (OUR )N 3TORE ,ABS

&OR NEAREST LOCATION CALL s /UTSIDE -ETRO 4ORONTO WWW HAKIMOPTICAL CA

First ............................................................................. Hazelton Place Amica Second ............................................................................ The Dunfield Britton House Third ................................................................................... Chartwell

IN HOME SENIOR CARE First ..................................................................... Mosaic Home Care Bayshore Home Care Second .................................................................. Premier Homecare Third .......................................................... Take it Easy Home Care

CHIROPRACTOR First ............................................................Mt. Pleasant Chiropractor Second ............................................................. Bayview Chiropractor Third .......................................... Healing Hands Family Chiropractor

DENTIST First ............................................................ Dr. Leslie Train & Assoc.

Second ..............................................................Dawson Dental Centre Third ........................................................................... Dr. Ted Margel Dr. Janet Tamo

416-924-5060 VAUGHAN

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18 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

______

905-728-8955

ThankYou You Thank our customers customers to to our for voting usus for voting

First .................................................................... Eyedenity Eyestyles Second ................................................................................ Eye Studio Hakim Third ............................................................................ Vizio Eyeware

“BestSushi JapaneseIn Restaurant” “Best Town”

SKINCARE First .......................................................................... Absolute Beauty Second ......................................................................... Skinworks Spa Third .................................................................... Beauty Village Spa

reservations@edosushi.com phone: 416.322.3033 484 Eglinton Ave. West www.edosushi.com This coupon is valid for one complimentary Chef’s Special Appetizer one per table, upon presentation when ordering.Valid every evening from February 15th to March 15, 2012. Not Valid with any other certificate, promotion or pre-fixe menu. Not valid for take-out or delivery. Beverages, taxes and gratuity are not included. This promotion is valid only at 484 Eglinton Ave. West location.

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First ................................................................. Noah’s Natural Foods Second ....................................................................... Green Naturals Third ........................................................ Peaches & Green Bayview Big Carrot Natural Food

Enjoy our Chef’s Special Appetizer on us.

BEST I

HEALTH FOOD STORE

2010

Clip this Ad or mention Town Crier

OPTICAL

We look forward to your next visit.

Corallo

MASSAGE THERAPY First ......................................................... The Neighbourhood Clinic Second ..................................................................... Sutherland Chan Third ....................................................................... Helen of Toronto

MEN’S SALON

MANICURE/PEDICURE

Established 1959

3122!Cftu!Jo!Upxo!

3122!Cftu!Jo!Upxo!

First ....................................................................... Mt. Pleasant Nails Second .......................................................................... Vanessa Nails Third ................................................................................. B. T Nails

Hpme!Bxbse Hpme!Bxbse Cftu!Cbscfs!Tipq Cftu!Cbscfs!Tipq

FAMILY RESTAURANT

Thank you to our loyal customers for voting us the BEST barber shop in the city. We appreciate your support.

First ........................................................................ The Longest Yard Second ............................................................................ Pickle Barrel Third ............................................................... The Purple Restaurant

- The Staff at Corallo’s

• 3195 Yonge St. • 416-483-7061 •

Thank you for voting us ‘Best Funeral Home in Town’

1403 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4G 3A8

416-485-6333

www.humphreymiles.com

e-mail: preplanning@humphreymiles.com FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 19

BAKERY “Serving the community since 1997” “Thank you to all of our wonderful customers who voted us best in town”

www.torontomaid.com 416-429-3892 torontomaid@bellnet.ca

TOWN A

BUTCHER First ................................................. St. Jamestown Steak and Chops Second ................................................................. White House Meats Cumbrae’s Third ......................................................................... Healthy Butcher Bruno’s

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First ................................................... Thobors Boulanherie Patisserie Jules Café Patisserie Second ............................................................................... Epi Bakery Flakey Tart Third ......................................................................................... Cobbs Half Baked

First ............................................................................ Bread & Butter Second .......................................................................... The Homeway The Good Bites Third ...................................................... Rosie’s Kitchen on Bayview Beachside Grill

2011

LUNCH • Adult Novelties • Exotic Lingerie • High Heel Shoes • Menswear • Costumes for EVERY OCCASION • Lotions & Massage Oils • Lello Products

789 Warden Ave., Scarborough 416.285.6425 158 Kennedy Rd. S., Brampton 905.457.7544

718 Yonge St., Toronto 416.967.7544 39 Dundas St. East, Mississauga 905.306.7544

SHOP ONLINE AT:

185 Carlingview Dr., Etobicoke 416.213.1233

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655 The Quensway, Etobicoke 416.253.7544

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First ................................................................................... Café Pliade Second .................................................................... Hannah’s Kitchen Third .............................................................................. Hillside Café

SILVER AWARD 2011

DREAM, MEET, CONCEPT, BUDGET, PLAN then BUILD… Try our Success Formula, Call Us. You Won’t go wrong!

www.cupidboutique.com

ALL STORES OPEN: Mon - Sat: 10am - 10pm • Sun: 12pm - 6pm

2009

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US ONE OF THE BEST

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TOWN

SILVER AWARD 2011

HOURS Mon-Thurs 9-6 Fri 9-7, Sat 9-6

1101 Victoria Park Avenue (416) 755-9960

20 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

VICTORIA PARK

Fresh Atlantic Salmon, Cod Fillets, Fish Cakes, Rainbow Trout, Seafood Cakes, Perch, Sole, Tilapia, Cajun Catfish, Live Lobster, Scallops, Oysters & Shrimp ST. CLAIR E.

X

W.C. MEEK DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

416.690.1919

www.wcmeekdesignandconstruction.com

THAI First ................................................................. The Thai Spicy House Second .................................................................... Satay on the Road Lemongrass Third .............................................................................................. Riz The Friendly Thai

CHINESE First ..................................................................................... C’est Bon Second ............................................................................. South China Third ............................................................................ Xin Yi Garden

Indian Restaurant & Wine Bar

‘Join us for Winterlicious 2012’ ‘Weekly Live Music’

INDIAN First .................................. Kamasutra Indian Restaurant & Wine Bar Second .......................................................................................Amaya Third ............................................ Debus Nouvelle Indian Restaurant

ITALIAN First .................................................................................. Viva Napoli Second .................................................................................... Positano Third ......................................................................................... Grazie Verdi

GREEK

First ...................................................................................... Celestine Second ....................................................................... La Petite France Third ...................................................................................... Coquine

JAPANESE First ........................................................................... Hokkaido Sushi Second ........................................................................................... Edo Third ............................................................................................ Omi

MIDDLE EASTERN First ......................................................................................... Tabule Second ............................................................... Jerusalem Restaurant Third ........................................................................................ Imbliss

2009

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2008

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First ....................................................................................... The Keg Second .......................................................................... 5 Doors North Third ............................................................................. Simple Bistro

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First ................................................................ Greece on Mt. Pleasant Second ..........................................................................Palace on Pape Karbouzi Third .................................................................... The Friendly Greek

2011

We would like to thank all of our readers for voting us Best Indian Food in Town for the fourth year in a row.

For reservations: 416.489.4899 1522 Bayview ave. (south oF eglinton) www.kamasutrarestaurant.ca FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 21

Premier Homecare Services

Toronto - Central

We specialize in Alzheimer’s & related dementia care.

SEAFOOD First ........................................................................The Miller Tavern Second .................................................................. Seaport Merchants Phoebes Third ................................................................................. de La Mer

Thank you for voting us

BURGER

BEST

IN-HOME SENIOR CARE IN TOWN! Independently Owned & Operated

416.637.2155

First ....................................................................................Bamburger Second ........................................................................... Burger Shack Third ......................................................................... Gourmet Burger

PIZZA First ..................................................................................Viva Napoli Second ...................................................................... Bigman’s Pizza Third .................................................................................... Mammas

DELI

Call to arrange for your FREE Assessment!

IN

Canadian fashion is our passion

TOWN

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BEST

PremierTorontoCentral.com

First ................................................................................Hillside Café Second ........................................................................... La Salumeria Third ................................................................. Absolute Fine Foods

11

HAZELTON PLACE RETIREMENT RESIDENCE INVITES YOU TO ENJOY A SPECIAL

VALENTINE'S DAY CELEBRATION TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14 FROM 3:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. TH

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Mr. Ken Jones Instrumental & Vocals

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Live Entertainment, complimentary refreshments. Come alone or bring a Sweetheart. RSVP 416 928-0111

Thank you Town Crier readers and customer for voting Mode Suzan the Gold Award winner for Women’s Fashion for the third consecutive year.

2010

Mention this ad to receive 10% oFF new Spring Merchandise.

111 Avenue Road, Toronto (416) 928-0111 www.hazeltonplace.ca 22 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

Mason Pearson hair brushes TAX INCLUDED.

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Monthly rates starting at only $3395 including 3 meals a day, recreational programs, housekeeping and 24 hour emergency nursing response.

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Thank you for voting us Best Thai food in Town!

2008

2009

1570 Bayview Ave.

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First ...............................................................Aristotle @ McGregorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Second .......................................................McSorleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Saloon & Grill Third ............................................................................Fox and Fiddle Granite Brewery

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LOCAL PUB

2011

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Dining

Liz Campbell

Sampling the fare at Riz North W

hen confronted with a restaurant menu, the hard part for me is choosing exactly which dishes I want to try. What I’d most like is to sample several so I can really taste what the chef has to offer. And – Oh joy! – at Riz North, I can.

Open just eight months or so, this chic little spot offers an “All You Can Taste” lunch menu for just $17 ($18 at weekends; $12 for children). Let me clarify. This is not a buffet, so the food hasn’t been sitting around keeping warm. It is made to order in small portions so one can taste several different dishes from several different cuisines.

Vietnamese pho, traditional Chinese represented by dim sum and dishes like the now ubiquitous General Tao chicken (who the heck was this guy?), teriyaki, sushi and maki rolls from Japan, and Pad Thai and various curries from Thailand.

There are rules. No carryout, no sharing with those not paying for this menu, and a stern request not to waste food (‘leftovers will be charged at regular price’). It’s all fair enough.

The three of us start with three Thai dishes: vegetable spring rolls, mango soft rolls, and mango salad, as well as — on the recommendation of the waiter — lotus pocket stuffed with chicken, from the dim sum menu. The salad gets a universal thumbs up. Lots of firm mango strips and a few slivers of red onion lightly tossed in the traditional dressing.

The spring roll is mini and the sauce is the usual Thai sweet chilli but it has a fishy flavour – nam pla added to it perhaps? One guest doesn’t like it at all and I have to say, it does throw a flavour curve. The mango soft roll is delicious, but once more the dipping sauce has an unexpected twist. It’s unusual and not to everyone’s taste.

The lotus pocket is sticky rice with some chicken – standard dim sum lo mai gai. It’s tasty.

It’s hard to go wrong with a Thai curry and the Thai green curry chicken with jasmine rice here is marked on the menu with two chillies in fair warning. It’s so good that one guest keeps returning to the little bowl for

another mouthful.

I love the crispy citrus lemon halibut – it’s sweet and lemony and the fish manages to stay crisp despite the sticky sauce. It’s Cantonese food at its best. And a plain dish of “mix vegetables” is a healthy tossing of bok choy, prettily cut carrots, snow peas, broccoli and cauliflower in a simple soya-based sauce. It makes a nice contrast to the strong flavours of the other dishes.

Thai cashew chicken (only one chilli for moderately hot) gets mixed reviews. It’s a good combination, but there’s a distinct flavour two of us find unappealing. My Chinese spice repertoire is limited but it might be five-spice powder. It’s disappointing.

A spicy tuna sushi pizza is very unusual. I’ve had sushi pizza before but this one comes with the tuna layered between rice and some other toppings and the crust isn’t as crispy firm, but this is delicious.

Riz seems to attract all ages including several families, and it strikes me this is a great way to get children to try different foods. And one nice thing with such a menu is the congeniality it engenders.

The next table ordered Szechuan crispy beef and offered us a taste. Absolutely scrumptious. This joins Pad Thai and Maki rolls on my list of things to order the next time we visit. There are so many dishes left to sample!

Riz North, 3321 Yonge St. 416-3226789. The taste menu is only available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The website – www.riznorth.com – is still under construction as we go to press. TT

liz campbell/toronto today

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR DINNERS? Our reviewer takes pleasure in the ability to try out numerous dishes at Riz North, which is located on Yonge Street just a few blocks north of Lawrence.

FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 25

Home&Garden

Major shows merge

By Mary Fran McQuade mary fran mcquade/toronto today

HOME SWEET HOME SHOW: In March, Canada Blooms and the National Home Show will combine for the biggest home and garden show in North America. It will run for 10 days at the Direct Energy Centre.

Canada Blooms and National Home Show roll into one M

ark March 2012 as home and garden month. Two mega-shows, Canada Blooms and the National Home Show, are combining to create North America’s biggest home-plusgarden outing. The shows run simultaneously

for a full 10 days.

One ticket gets you into both though one day probably won’t be to get your fill of all the exhibits and offer. So if you have the stamina for day passes are also available.

F

26 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

events, enough info on it, two-

Twice the fun This the first time the two events have joined forces, and some garden purists are skeptical of the outcome. Organizers insist the move isn’t a merger, but a “co-location” that

Stop and smell the flowers At Canada Blooms, flower and garden fans will be able to tour large and small feature gardens created by top designers.

Kids and their parents can hang out at the children’s activity garden and play area.

Music fans will enjoy the four Juno Rock gardens interpreting the individual styles of award-winning artists Jann Arden, Feist, Kesha Chante and Sarah Slean/Royal Wood.

On the Celebrity Stage, crowd-pleasers include author and broadcaster Mark Cullen, Frank Ferragine (TV’s “Frankie Flowers”), garden expert and broadcaster Charlie Dobbin, Marjorie Mason of Mason House Gardens and Paul Zammit of the Toronto Botanical Garden.

In addition, smaller meeting room sessions will cover subjects such as easy-care native plants, roses, invasive plants, herbs and lots more.

• Canada Blooms and the National Home Show both run March 16 through 25, 2012. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (to 5 p.m. on closing day).

• National Home Show location: Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes' Blvd.

• Canada Blooms location: Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Hall A & Heritage Court, 100 Princes' Blvd.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself at the blockbuster home and garden show.

• Tickets Adult $20, Senior (65+) $17, Student (13-18) $16, two-day ticket $29. Children 12 and under free. $3 discount on advance online ticket purchases. For more info and to purchase tickets online: www.canadablooms.com, or www.nationalhomeshow.com.

j & r welding And

generAl home repAirs Wrought iron gates and fences Security bars • Mobile welding Stainless Steel Welding Railings Custom metal work All types of home repairs

Make it a stay-cation Garden groups and societies will again have their space in the Gardeners Fare section. And of course, there’ll be plenty of goodies to buy at both shows, from refrigerators to sunrooms to spades and garden boots.

Even if you’re not headed away for March break, you can still have a fab staycation at this year’s combo Canada Blooms and National Home Show. (Bring your camera!) TT

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Restore, renew, refresh Each show will have its own programming. Time on the big Celebrity Stage, however, will be shared by speakers from the two shows.

National Home Show programming wasn’t finalized in time for this column.

Some of the things visitors can expect, though, include: • The 2012 Dream Home, called R-House and designed by Probuilt/Michael Upshaw.

The ultra-modern 3,600 sq. ft. house spotlights energy efficiency, sustainable luxury and the latest in home-building technology.

• Celebrities from the field of home design and building appearing on the Celebrity Stage (where gardening celebs will also speak). Look for presentations by Bryan Baeumler (of Disaster DIY), Jim Caruk (of Real Renos), Jane Lockhart (longtime host of Colour Confidential), Glen Peloso (from Take This House & Sell It) and others.

• The Destination Renovation hub, where visitors can talk shop with some of the GTA’s top contractors and builders.

• One-on-one consultations with interior designers at the What's Your Design

When, where, how much

Dilemma centre.

• A discussion of 2012's new furniture trends, presented by Interior Stylist Janette Ewen.

IAL CONTINEIGNNT LAMINATES DES

brings similar interests under one roof, for the benefit of show-goers.

“Audiences of both of these powerhouse events share many common interests,” says Canada Blooms general manager Gerry Ginsberg. “It was a natural extension for us to co-locate.”

Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place will be packed with exhibits and vendors from both shows. Canada Blooms display gardens and floral/horticultural displays will take over the west end of the building. The home show will fill the rest, with the everpopular Dream Home set off in the northern extension. The Blooms Marketplace will take a new position in the middle ground of the Heritage Court.

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Automotive

Winter tired?

D

You should be — they make a world of difference

By Mathieu Yuill

ecember and January have produced some of the nicest spring days in recent memory.

It has been an exceptionally mild couple of months, but as the season has shown us, big snowfalls are lurking just behind the next cold front. In addition, February and March have historically given the GTA its

28 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

largest snowfalls.

If you do any amount of driving in the winter months then installing winter tires on your vehicle is a must. Today’s winter tires work even when there isn’t snow on the ground.

Winter tires contain cold rubber compounds that improve performance once the temperature drops below five degrees Celsius. They also include channeling tread patterns to move snow away from the tire actively, as well as having a greater quantity of tread sipes that help with wet weather performance.

We installed a set of Blizzak DM-V1’s on a 2010 Ford F-150 and headed north where there was snow to see if we could notice any difference.

Bridgestone’s Blizzak winter tires have been consistent top performers in the winter tire segment and have a lot of technology built in to them. Sipes on tires refer to the diagonal slits cut into the rubber, which gives the tires better traction. Blizzak tires have what they call 3D zig-zag sipes that provide multiple biting edges, and thanks to the varying angles throughout, the tire tread maintained their stiffness and helped prevent sliding even with an empty bed.

Many winter tires use a silica filler in its rubber compound to help with wet grip performance but is often distributed unevenly. The rubber used in winter tires are softer than both

performance and all-season tires but when it gets colder, rubber with uneven distribution of silica tends to get hard. Using nano protech polymers, the DM-V1’s silica is distributed evenly, keeping the tire soft and in return more of the tire surface is in contact with the road, which results in better grip.

Finally, tiny bubbles aren’t just good in champaign, they’re also good in winter tires. Our set of Blizzak’s have what Bridgestone calls MultiCell Tubes. Tube multicell is a rubber compound that has tiny bubbles throughout it and on the surface, acts like a sponge. When you drive over snow and ice a thin layer of water is formed — this is what creates the slippage. These bubbles wick that water away giving your vehicle straight contact with the snow or ice, resulting in better grip.

The factory tires on the F-150 and the Blizzak winter tires were like night and day. In a country like Canada when you’re buying a car, a winter tire package should be included in your budget. TT

Factory tires and winter tires are like night and day.

Charging ahead The famed Dodge model continues to impress

C

By Mathieu Yuill

hrysler has been in the throwback game longer than any other thanks to the introduction of the PT Cruiser in 2000. That the likes of the Dodge Charger continues to be a prominent face in the lineup should come as no surprise.

Bo and Luke made the Charger famous driving the General Lee on the early ’80s television show, The Dukes of Hazzard.

At the time, the Charger was a two-door coupe with a signature rear uni-light and aggressive front grill. In the modern reinvention, the two doors have become four, but lots of the original muscle car has remained.

Starting at just under $30,000 the Charger comes in nine different trim levels, with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options being the main difference in most of them. The five least expensive models come with an impressive eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers satisfactory performance without busting the fuel gauge.

Both the all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive clock in around 11 litres/100km in the city and just less than 7 litres/100km on the highway.

Dodge treats the Charger with a modern dash and centre console. The instrument cluster is lit up with a red hue and an information screen glows a pleasant blue. Gone are the horrible centre consoles that included the HVAC and audio controls of yesteryear in Dodge products replaced by clean lines, and big, bright buttons with silver accents.

The front seats in some models are quite comfortable even for those of us with good child bearing hips, but the set that comes with the R/T and SRT8 models are incredibly narrow. They’re supposed to include side bolsters to keep you firmly in place but it feels like they actually include rolling pins in the seats to push into your hips and thighs. Opt out of them unless you’re slim like Gumby.

Room is surprisingly bountiful and it

wouldn’t be a chore for five adults to head for a night out on the town and be comfortable. In fact, the trunk is large enough to accommodate luggage for the same five adults, making the two-hour trip tolerable — even in the middle back seat.

In a break from tradition, Dodge is offering its Uconnect systems in every trim level. This allows you to connect your phone via Bluetooth, and with smartphones you can even stream your media through the vehicle’s audio system.

This hasn’t become a common feature yet in vehicles in the low to mid-$30,000 range so it’s a nice plus. TT

Room inside the car is surprisingly bountiful, easily fitting five adults for a night out.

FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 29

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FEBRUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 31

Travel

Later, gator Taking a trip to Florida’s Everglades is no crock

A

By Liz Campbell

s our little crew of four kayaks paddles along, the sun slowly sinks below tall trees and gnarled mangroves. Birds are returning to their nests for the night; a graceful egret flaps past, way up high, and a hawk effortlessly lands on a nearby stump.

The lazy ahingas which sat a little while ago with wings spread to catch the sun, have disappeared from sight. Is it because their black feathers make excellent camouflage, or have they too gone home elsewhere?

What have definitely gone home are the airboats which roar around the channels, taking visitors to see alligators. Blessed peace — punctuated by the sounds of water and nocturnal animals — descends upon the Everglades.

With descending darkness, we switch on our headlamps. They cast their light through the tangled branches, and we concentrate hard, searching for a pinpoint of orange in the darkness.

Suddenly, someone calls out, “Here’s one!” And we all sweep our lights around and paddle closer to the spot he has lit.

The eyes of an alligator glow orange in the light from our headlamps, but you have to catch them just right to see this. This proves easy as the huge alligator decides to come and investigate. The guide cautiously suggests we move back slightly, and we’re all privately in agreement! But our kayaks are large enough to intimidate the reptile and after coming several feet, he turns aside. He’s now less than 10 feet away so his dark length is clear in the paler water. Wow, he’s a big fellow!

We move off again and in the course of an hour, spot several more alligators lurking in the undergrowth. We might never have seen them in daylight, so well do they blend into their environment.

It’s hard to describe the thrill this adventure affords. These are big beasts, primeval and dangerous, and there’s nothing but a few feet of open water between us, water they can move through way more efficiently than we could. Still, in the pitch darkness of an Everglades night, with the only

32 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: An area almost destroyed by the intent to develop it, Florida’s Everglades are chock-full of interesting natural sights and sounds, our travel columnist finds.

light coming from a half moon, the guide has to bully us into finally paddling back. And, as none of us knows the way back to the spot from which we launched our kayaks, following him is a must.

Eventually, happily tired from our paddling and glad to get back, we stumble back to our room at the Ivey House in Everglades City to change for dinner. The Ivey House offers a whole range of expeditions — as well as a whole range of accommodations — for those who want to explore the Everglades.

To see alligators in broad daylight, we head to Shark Valley in the heart of the Everglades, the river of grass, that stretches 100 miles from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico. The creatures here share a freshwater ecosystem of saw grass marsh and tree islands, and the alligators have become so comfortable they simply lounge by the side of the road.

There’s a tram that takes you the 24-kilometre round trip through the park, with an observation tower halfway along its length. But I would recommend doing this on foot or on bicycle. We watch the tram whizzing past as we get a close look at huge alligators and gorgeous birds, sunning themselves side-by-side in the marsh. It’s quite awe-inspiring.

Only half a mile or so from the visitor centre, the splash of water, the chatter and chirp of birds and the click of my shutter are the only sounds to be heard. But just once, we hear a distinct, deep mutter from an alligator nearby and depart the area hastily.

I doubt we would have been in any danger, but tell that to my rapidly pounding heart!

There’s so much to see: beautiful plant life and flowers. Unhappily, I can’t identify these, but their spots of bright colour make a striking contrast in a world of swampy brown and green.

It’s hard to believe that this magnificent wetland encompassing a vast area of Southern Florida, was very nearly completely destroyed. In the late 1800s, the draining of the area was begun, in order to create more development. But for once, the state’s dreaded hurricanes actually helped, flooding the area and

causing developers to give up in disgust.

In the 1970s, UNESCO designated the Everglades as one of only three wetland areas of global importance. Since then, the government has been working hard to restore and preserve the area — a wise move since this is one of the few parts of the state that hasn’t fallen prey to Florida kitsch. It’s always amazing to me that a state with so much natural beauty should so easily embrace plastic pelicans and tacky T-shirts.

With nature at its best and civilization often at its worst, Florida is definitely worthy of a visit.

Buy the T-shirt, but don’t let the formidable natural world in Florida escape unnoticed.

If you go: The Ivey House, Everglades City: www.iveyhouse.com.

Shark Valley: www.Sharkvalleytramtours.com.

Florida Tourism: www.visitflorida.com. TT

Sports

Brian Baker

Making executive decisions FRANCIS CRESCIA/TOroNto today

SCRUM FROM DOWN UNDER: Clockwise from top left are Toronto Dingos Shaun McKay, Liam Sorrell, Alison Lent, Mike McFarlane, Chris Buczkowski, Geoff Hansen, Justin Robertson, Rick Strezovski, Ramsey Blacklock and David Wells.

Get your footy on, mate Toronto Dingos celebrate 15 years of Aussie Rules

T

By Brian Baker

here have been Dingos in the downtown for 15 years now.

Back in 1989 when Australian Football League teams Essendon Bombers and Hawthorn Hawks played at the once-named Skydome, several footy fans formed a Canadian version.

For the Dingos, spelled sans E, they’ve been tackling the game since their inception by Mark Jones in 1996.

They would be the eighth team in a Canadian league and was composed of players from other teams.

Fast-forward 15 years, and now the league has expanded to 10 teams, including rosters from Hamilton, Guelph and Ottawa.

Current Dingos president Craig Stewart, emailing from Australia, joined the squad in 2000 and recalls the dominance the wily canines had back then.

“The club really took off on the field this year as we managed to secure many quality players, and we ended up winning the OAFL Grand Final for the first time,” he said.

The Dingos have won three premierships since 2000, including a three-peat from 2003-05.

“We have had many up and downs throughout the years,” Stewart said. “We have missed out on the finals only once since 2000 so we have always been a fairly successful club.”

Now the goal is to start a woman’s team to compete with Central Blues, Toronto High Park Eagles and Etobicoke Kangaroos.

The men’s Division 1 team coach Chris Buczkowski says there’s a lot of interest and it’s just a matter of time before a bench boss is brought on.

“We’re just putting the coaching in place for the

women’s team so they can continue on recruiting,” he said.

“Right now a lot of the current players have been recruiting women who are interested in trying it out, whether they’ve played other similar sports in the past.”

The women trained alongside the men at Upper Canada College in late January, and the members of the organization are deeply entrenched in the community, holding events at the Sports Café on St. Clair Avenue West for 11 years and also spending summers practicing at the Rosehill Reservoir at David A. Balfour Park.

Though rugby is the closest sport to Aussie Rules, Buczkowski is quick to correct some folks’ misconceptions.

“If I say I’m playing Australian Rules Football, they’ll say, ‘Oh you’re playing rugby’, so I always have to correct them and tell it,” he said.

Similarities include the full-contact sport without equipment and the ball is of the same oval shape.

“In rugby you have to be onside with your team, in rugby with Aussie rules there is no offsides,” Buczkowski said. “You lineup around the field like you would with soccer with forwards, midfields and defence.

“You advance the ball by kicking it while you’re running, that motion is similar to a punter or a soccer goalie when they’re dropping it of their hands.”

The nuances make the game unique, Stewart adds.

“It is very addictive once people try it and learn the game the correct way,” he said. “The women’s game has modified rules to protect the players.

“The Toronto Dingos offer free clinics all winter for women and men, and these clinics are a great way for new players to learn the sport and hopefully continue to play for years to come.” TT

W

hen Starbucks used to have quotes on their cups, under the heading “The Way I See It”, one rung true with me.

A city councillor in Everett, Wash., Brenda Stonecipher, said, “Give me world politics, gender politics, party politics, or small-town politics ...

I’ll take them all over the politics of youth sports”.

I laughed when I first saw it because of the sheer honesty of Stonecipher.

In my hometown I was involved in baseball. It seems once my family and I moved to Whitby, every summer was enveloped by the game.

My dad was umpire-in-chief for a lengthy period right up until I moved to Toronto in 2008.

My dad joined the Whitby Minor Baseball Association executive in 1989. That’s a hard-fought 22 years of volunteering. Valiantly he’s still holding up against the morass of politics. He also held the post of president for a few years along with his chief official position, which produced comments from those who had their nose-out-of-joint with umpires.

I only lasted three years in the association. My mom, one.

Why my dad has been with the WMBA through all the drama — which could be a daytime soap with some of the storylines — is because he loves sports. And he genuinely likes people.

Being out of minor baseball for a couple of years has me thinking about getting back into the swing of volunteering.

So, I inquired with Leaside’s Howard Birnie, who’s been involved in baseball for almost 50 years about helping out.

As for politics, Birnie admits, “That’s what happens from becoming big”.

Continued Page 34 FEBRUARY February 2012 TORONTO TODAY 33

Budget break up?

Cont. from Page 33

One of the big problems is the short-term commitment some volunteers make. Mostly parents will join executive committees and only stick around for the duration of their child’s amateur career.

And that’s fine, but Birnie warns about changing association constitutions.

“There are a lot of people my friend likes to call, hit-and-run artists,” he said. “They’re there while their kids are playing and they have all these ideas but then they’re gone.

“I know, five years from now and I’m still well, I’ll still be here, but that guy’s kid stops playing you won’t see him again,” he added.

“There can be far reaching affects from the changes you make.”

I’m not a parent, yet. But when politics sullies the volunteer waters, it’s not good for anyone. I am an independent individual, so I don’t get caught up in other people’s problems.

That rubbed some of the folks on the WMBA executive the wrong way. One particular individual sent me weekly emails critiquing my volunteer work on the website.

Another individual, who I left in charge of updating the website while I was in Calgary, decided to alter the website without talking with me first. She wasn’t even an executive member, and my job was Website Director. When I asked why, she said a small collective of the executive didn’t like it. No one mentioned it to me in meetings. Nor did the subterfuge specialist offer me any names.

Oh, the drama.

But I, like my father, want to help out with sports, and get out to meet people. That attribute is obviously an asset in journalism too.

It also helps when people ground themselves, change their mindset from the reclaim Omaha Beach attitude to organizing a game enjoyed by kids.

Folks, you’re adults, leave the schoolyard pissing matches in your past and think about why and who you are volunteering for: children.

And also take a step back and understand this is something you decided to do in your leisure time.

The emphasis on leisure.

“There can be far reaching affects from the changes you make.”

34 TORONTO TODAY FEBRUARY 2012

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ACROSS 1. Councillor whose motion saved many services from budget cuts 6. Lively 10. Border on a shield 14. BA’s group 15. Guilty, for example 16. Shovel go-with 17. Riddle Part 1 19. Julius Caesar’s death day 20. Greek goddess of dawn 21. NE state 22. Riddle Part 2 29. Payment that is behind 30. Gall 31. Tall tale tellers 32. Fishing or film 34. Odic force 37. Riddle Part 3 41. ___ phenomenon, where a light goes out as you walk under it 42. Chooses 43. What one does with some beans in the south 44. “Didn’t you get the ___?”

46. Reveal 47. Riddle Part 4 50. One of 150 52. Oft-injured knee part 53. Part of Croatian currency

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54. Riddle Answer 61. Very dry 62. Major cosmetics company 63. Viking language 64. New England Patriots linebacker Bruschi 65. Peter and flute 66. Wool fabric

DOWN 1. Lewenza’s org.

2. Off the hook, in Internet slang 3. Grassland 4. Longitude’s opposite, abbr.

5. First responders 6. Thread wheel 7. Like a stuffed animal 8. Family mem.

9. Hand that points to text in the Torah 10. Heroin, for example 11. Broadcast medium 12. Property being held over debt 13. Threat ender 18. Next rightful owner 21. Torme or Gibson 22. Lower leg muscles, colloquially 23. Large bay window

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24. Sacred serpent emblems on Egyptian rulers’ headdresses 25. River in Russia 26. Select for a role 27. Does as told 28. Heap 32. Make fun of, slangily 33. Timekeeping in winter 34. Killed, as a mobster would 35. Arabic irrigation tool 36. With a British sense of humour 38. It’s where the heart is 39. Norwegian soccer star John ___ Riise 40. Guns the engine 44. Sickness 45. Shady tree 46. Runnin’ Rebels’ school 47. Lacking stimulation 48. Claw 49. Idols 50. Map showing land divisions 51. Kingly term of endearment 54. Siesta 55. Eggs 56. Walking tree in Lord of the Rings 57. Feeling down 58. Raw mineral 59. Opposite of NNW 60. Danson or Nugent

Check www.MyTorontoToday.ca for the answers.

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