Toronto Today - November 2010 by Town Crier

PR ED E IT MIE IO R N

ODAY

LIFE WITH FORD Midtowners didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t vote for him. Will he work for us?

November 2010

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Hibernate in your house: Turn your home into a cozy nook

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4 ELECTION 2010: Ford—can he be good for us?

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Midtowners weigh in on what the new mayor means for us

14 ARTS: Life is sweet at art space

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Community celebrates Artscape Wychwood Barns

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FAMILIES: Lace up your skates Hit the ice with your little ones

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News and life in the heart of the city he seasons bring change. That’s why November — as fall turns to winter — is the perfect month to launch Toronto Today. The roots we planted with the prize-winning newspaper Midtown Town Crier have been expanded to produce something brandnew and of even greater value for our community. This issue introduces a fresh news and lifestyle magazine to cover the stories, people and events of this city. That’s Midtown, of course. The centre of Toronto. A booming, buzzing collection of neighbourhoods, cultural centres and business hotspots — together sharing a sense of identity: We’re not downtown. We’re not uptown or northtown. We’re Midtown. In the lead article, “Ford: Can he be good for us?”, Kris Scheuer analyzes what the rise of Rob Ford — a mayor whom we in Midtown didn’t overwhelmingly support — means for the dynamic of our neighbourhoods. Plus, there are a lot of new faces representing us at city council: how will they make this a better place to live, work and play? There’s so much to do in our neighbourhoods this month, especially for those who want to rid their minds of election talk. For help planning your social calendar, check out “5 ways to forget the election.” The chilly weather made

Lori Abittan Publisher an early debut this year and for many, the cooler days mean wanting to spend more time hibernating in the great indoors. In this issue, home guru Mary Fran McQuade offers her tips for getting good and comfy in your home in “Cozy comfort in your home”. Restaurant reviewer Liz Campbell will surely make your mouth water — as mine did — with the account of her dining experience at a St. Clair West eatery in “PROPer pasta on the menu”. Plus we have the latest updates on fall/winter fashions and health crazes — all Midtown-style, of course. So enjoy this inaugural issue of Toronto Today. We look forward to providing you in-depth coverage of Midtown’s news, people, arts, sports and much more every month throughout the coming years.

On the cover: Mayor elect Rob Ford. Photo by Francis Crescia

SPORTS: On the pitch Local boy Donheil Henry’s living the dream

Plus lots more...

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News&Opinion

FRANCIS CRESCIA/TORONTO TODAY

MAYOR-ELECT Rob Ford is busy working with his transition team in advance of his swearing in December. There’s mixed feelings about what he’ll mean for Midtown.

Ford: can he be good for us? BY KRIS SCHEUER

ew mayor Rob Ford got mixed reaction from voters in Midtown, but one’s thing for certain: This is definitely not his core electorate. So his sweeping victory — he won easily with 383,501 votes — has Midtown wondering: what will he do for us? Overall, there’s a cloak of secrecy surrounding Ford these days as he bunkers down with his transition team lead by Councillor Case Ootes. What campaign policies will Ford stand by and which will he soften? Calls to Ford’s team were directed to Ootes, who said he could not discuss any policy direction now. Period. “The objective of the mayor is to deliver on his commitments and to get costs under control,” Ootes said earlier this month. “I won’t get into what’s doable and what’s not doable. That’s what the transition team is discussing now.” And while they’re behind closed doors talking, so is Midtown. There’s mixed feeling among business owners, residents and Ford’s Midtown council counterparts: fear, hope or downright uncertainty of what a Rob Ford Toronto will mean for the area.

4 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

Ford: a boon to business? There’s a perception by some Ford will be more business friendly than his predecessor. “There are 71 (business improvement areas) around Toronto and many of them are very much looking forward to the new mayor,” said Steven Petroff, chair of the Upper Village Business Improvement Association. “We were very disappointed with Mayor David Miller, who spoke about the importance of helping small businesses, but didn’t back that up with lowering businesses taxes.” Miller froze commercial taxes and lowered small business taxes incrementally over the years, but that may not be the perception among the business community. Ford doesn’t outline any specific small business policies in his platform on www.robfordformayor.ca. The newly formed Mt. Pleasant BIA is chaired by Neil Siomra, who’s happy with Ford—so far. “I support Rob Ford. I am pleased he is in there to shake things up,” he said. Currently, the city does 50/50 cost sharing of some BIA initiatives, but will this funding stay under Ford?

“Perhaps that could be part of the cost-cutting. No one really knows what’s on his list,” Siomra said. Death to Transit City? One very local issue on Ford’ platform was the canceling of Transit City, including the Eglinton light rail transit plan. His transit policy states: “It’s time to stop the Transit City disaster.” Ford’s plan is to take the $3.7 billion the province committed to Phase One of Transit City and use it all, plus $300,000, on a Sheppard subway between Scarborough Town Centre and Downsview and turn the Scarborough RT into a subway route. This would mean scrapping the approved Eglinton Light Rapid Transit line, which includes underground components between Laird and Keele.

What does a Rob Ford Toronto mean for Midtown?

Any decision would have to be made by the new council, province and Metrolinx. If the Eglinton LRT is scrapped, it will be a disaster for midtown, residents and local councillors agree. “I think it will be a mistake if they cancel the Eglinton LRT,” said George Milbrandt, co-chair of the Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Associations. FONTRA’s key focus is city and neighbourhood planning. “Although we hope it’s not the case, Ford may pay less attention to planning issues,” Milbrandt said. In Leaside, the key issue is planning: heritage preservation, design guidelines and protecting industrial lands. But also the Eglinton LRT. “The Leaside Property Owners’ Association would support the Eglinton LRT continuing, subject to some fine tuning,” said Brian Athey, president of the group. “Streetcars are an invaluable way to move people.” Re-elected Councillor Joe Mihevc said, “I think people along Eglinton would be very mad at those decisions (to cancel the LRT).” And it would also mean the $120 million spent on engineers, environmental assessments and four Eglinton-specific tunnel boring machines would be money down the drain, said Mihevc, vice chair of the TTC. For now though, Mihevc is giving Ford the benefit of the doubt. “We are in a policy fog right now. The mayor, premier and city council all have to weigh in on it,” Mihevc said. St. Paul’s councillor-elect Josh Matlow is ready to push for the Eglinton LRT. “It’s my understanding all Midtown councillors, whether incumbents or newly elected, will fight for an underground LRT to be built as soon as possible along Eglinton,” Matlow said. “So this is an area where I will respectfully disagree with mayor-elect Ford.” Ben Daube, president of the Sherwood Park

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Special Thank You to the Community of North Toronto For all their support and kindness to the Bellissimo’s Family

Residents’ Association, said balanced intensification of neighbourhoods and the Eglinton LRT are key issues now, not years in the future. “Most people want something built (on Eglinton) soon and they know changing the LRT to a subway would be a delay for a few years,” Daube said. “I don’t think there will be a lot of people happy if things are delayed.” Ward neighbours unite and weigh in

In loving memory of

Tony Bellissimo I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one, I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles When the day is done. I’d like to leave an echo Whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times And bright and sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve To dry before the sun, of happy memories That I leave behind, when the day is done.

Over in Ward 16, reelected Councillor Karen Stintz is confident the Eglinton LRT will proceed. But for her, a big Midtown issue is what will happen to the abandoned TTC lands on the southwest side of Yonge and Eglinton. Not only that but, “I got emails from people who are saying regardless of whether they supported Ford, they want (council) to work together. People hope we can maintain investment in parks.” Ford has spoken out against Jarvis bike lanes that effectively removed one traffic lane from the busy thoroughfare. “Huge significant feedback I got was to reverse the bike lane decision on Jarvis,” Stintz said. Supporting small businesses is a priority, said Stintz, who had already talked to newly elected Don Valley West Councillor Jaye Robinson about what they can do to help local business improvement associations. “I think we in Midtown are in the unique posi-

tion of having a lot of small businesses along main streets. It’s up to us to bring those (business concerns) to council and work with Rob Ford on solutions,” Stintz said. Another issue Ford campaigned on was repealing the vehicle registration and land transfer taxes. Councillor-elect Matlow said he’s heard huge support for that in Ward 22. “But first we need to have a conversation at council about how to replace that revenue stream in a way that allows us to protect services,” Matlow said. “It would be premature to predict Rob Ford’s (other) policies…I haven’t had a conversation with him. I plan to listen to what he has to say about his agenda.” Too soon to say? While knocking on the doors in Ward 21, Mihevc heard no real support for Ford’s policies and instead heard concerns. “People are worried their funding will be reduced or cut and arts organizations and festivals worry his view is that (these) should be funded by the private sector,” Mihevc said. “But there is a difference between Rob Ford candidate and Rob Ford mayor. His people are huddling together now to figure that out.” Ford is sworn in as the city’s next mayor for a four-year term at the start of December, whether Midtown likes it or not. TT

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You oughta know

What the heck is happening on Avenue Road? It’s a mess of construction! — Sarah (stuck in traffic)

A: Everyone reads the Town Crier

Call News or Advertising at 416-785-4300 6 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

You’re so right — Avenue Road is a mess for drivers, pedestrians and buses alike. And it feels like it’s been fraught with construction and traffic mayhem forever. Well, it hasn’t. Just since May 2010 (The construction, anyway.) The lane restrictions and digging from MacPherson Avenue (near Bloor) that have been moving their way up Avenue Road to beyond Chaplin Crescent are part of a two-year long project to construct a new watermain, according to the city’s website. The watermain distributes water to

reservoirs across the city. The old watermain was built in 1915 and 1923. It’s being replaced to improve performance and increase security on the pipes. The city’s website says expected completion is May 2012 (at Caribou Road, near Lawrence Avenue.) But a sign at Chaplin and Avenue says September 2012. And if you’ve noticed strange digging going on near Chaplin and Oriole Parkway — it’s flanked by plywood that’s got some art stuck on it (that’s another question!) — the city is decommissioning the existing valve pipes. Do you have a burning question you want to know the answer to? Let us know. Email what you wanna know to alexisd@mytowncrier.ca and we’ll do our darndest to find out for you. TT

n o M t i h d g t i l o t w o n p S

Scarborough also Ford country: his best in the east

Ford’s strongest: his home ward, Ward 2 Etobicoke North

64% in Ward 39 ScarboroughAgincourt

80%

46%

41% 53%

42%

32% 32% 25%

36%

His kind of town: the rest of Etobicoke was solidly Ford His weakest: downtown in Trinity Spadina

FORD’S %

OF VOTE

22%

How the new mayor fared in local wards on election day urprisingly well, actually. You’ve seen those maps that compare the areas Rob Ford won with those George Smitherman took. You’ve exclaimed over how the old unamalgamated city of Toronto seemed to vote diametrically against the Ford-boosting suburbs. But our map above, putting Midtown at the centre of the world and

breaking down Ford’s vote more finely, tells a slightly different story. Yes, our new mayor was weakest downtown and relatively weak up the middle of the metropolis. And yes, the ’burbs backed him overwhelmingly. But nowhere in the city did he get wiped out. His worst showings — in downtown wards — were still 22 percent or higher, while rivals Smitherman and Joe Pantalone were wiped

out in many parts of Toronto. And in Midtown, we were a lot more divided than you might realize. On balance, we voted for Ford’s opponents but quite a few of us Midtowners opted for the Etobicoke maverick. His lowest tally here came in the semi-downtown Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale, where he took a quarter of the ballots. Slightly further north in the centre of the known uni-

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verse, he won close to a third, edging up to and surpassing majority levels. So Midtown may not exactly be Ford country, but neither can we pretend to be a bastion of liberal sanity surrounded by the redneck hordes of right-wing reaction. However few of us may admit having voted for Ford, his message seems to have resonated with many. TT — Eric McMillan

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ove over, Mr. Councillor. Toronto has elected more women to council. The 45-member city council now has 15 females, up from the 10 elected in 2006. So council is now 33 percent female. This is impressive when you consider the United Nations has called for governments worldwide to have at least 30 percent of the political representatives as women. I’d argue having more women means council is more reflective of Toronto’s population. Elected officials should bring to the decision-making table the perspectives of the many people they represent. And what’s great is the current crop of female reps are a diverse group themselves. There are lefties like Paula Fletcher, Pam McConnell, Maria Augimeri and Janet Davis. There’s more right-of-centre councillors like Francis Nunziata and Karen Stintz, and even they can differ immensely in their views. Gloria Lindsay Luby was part of Mayor David Miller’s executive committee and so was budget chief Shelley Carroll. These eight re-elected female councillors are all very opinionated and passionate politicians who speak up for the causes they believe in. I love that. Incumbents Suzan Hall and Sandra Bussin were not re-elected, but seven new female faces will grace city hall. There’s entrepreneur and activist Kristyn WongTam. Jaye Robinson, who brings 20 years of city hall management experience with her. Sarah Doucette, Mary Fragedakis, Ana Bailao, Mary-Margaret McMahon and Michelle Berardinetti round out the group. Re-elected as rep for Don Valley East, Carroll said it’s still important to track the progress of female politicians at city hall. “It still seems the case that it’s still okay for men to want to be politicians and study political science but for women I still feel people ask, ‘What qualifies you for this?’” Carroll said. For her, one of the contributing factors to why more women were elected is the changes in election finance that banned corporate and union donations. This may have leveled the playing field, as not all women would have access to those same funding contacts and networks under the old system. Many of the female politicians I spoke to said women tend to be more collaborative in their approach to governing.

And residents are asking for this type of approach on council, said Don Valley West councillor-elect Robinson. “Canvassing every day for five months at the doors, I heard loud and clear: end the petty bickering and take action,” Robinson said. “Women are strong multitaskers and like to reach consensus.” Stintz said there are many different reasons why more women got elected in some very heated ward races. In Ward 29, it was primarily a battle between three women, winner Mary Fragedakis, Jane Pitfield and Jennifer Wood, Stintz said. And Mary-Margaret McMahon emerged victorious over Sandra Bussin in a field of men mainly because of McMahon’s community work, Stintz added. “It was a great election for people to win in, if they had an interest in politics and to run against incumbents,” she said, referring to the public push for change. Sarah Doucette, who defeated veteran politician Bill Saundercook, is pleased more women are on council. “It’s wonderful to have more women. It bring a different dynamic,” she said. “But you run as an individual. I only had two people in 15 weeks tell me they were voting for me because I was a woman.” A mother of two, ages 14 and 20, she said it helps her kids are older now. “The hardest job I ever had is the nine years I was at home with my kids,” she said. “I waited until my children were old enough to take care of themselves before I ran for council.” The increase of females on council is a hopeful sign, said Melissa Wong from the Toronto Women’s City Alliance. “We are hoping more women on council leads to more accountability to women, girls and their families,” she said. “The new mayor (Rob Ford) said he wants to keep costs down.” She is hopeful it won’t lead to cuts on services women rely on. During the election, the Toronto Women’s City Alliance sent out a survey to 321 council and mayoral candidates and got 102 respondents answering questions about policing, childcare and more. A priority of the Alliance is creating a city hall Women’s Equity Office to look at gender equality city-wide, which 81 percent of respondents said they’d support. My hope is 15 women on council will increase the strong, diverse opinions and perspectives at city hall while at the same pushing for a more collaborative approach on council. Is that asking too much? kscheuer@mytowncrier.ca TT

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NOVEMBER 2010 TORONTO TODAY 9

Election2010

Midtown fam T

here’s lots of new faces representing midtown at city hall. Who’s who and what’s what? And, how will they all fit together to look out for our part of the megacity? By Karolyn Coorsh and Alexis Dobranowski, with files from Kris Scheuer and Christopher Sa’d

The Media Darling: Josh Matlow He tweets, Facebooks and has his own YouTube channel. No doubt about it, newly elected St. Paul’s councillor Josh Matlow has his feet planted firmly in the age of social networking. And now that the trustee has graduated from the school board to city hall, expect to see even more live updates, and information-sharing from this tech-savvy Generation Xer. The Queen West clamshell may be unfamiliar territory for Matlow, but he likely won’t be a whisper on council. Already well-versed in the political realm, Matlow didn’t shy away from

10 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

controversial issues during his sevenyear tenure with the Toronto District School Board. But there may also be a little bit of peacemaker in Matlow. On the campaign trail, he said he heard the desire from the community for council to work together, and intends to heed that call. “People want a mature discussion at council where councillors thoughtfully discuss issues,” Matlow said. “And if we disagree, to do so respectfully.” Matlow, who married his wife Melissa just a little over a year ago, turns 35 this month.

The downtown connection: Kristyn Wong-Tam This newly elected Ward 27 rep seems to have her feet firmly planted downtown: she owns an art gallery on Queen West, used to own a Timothy’s franchise on Church Street and co-founded the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area. She’s had her hand in numerous other business and arts ventures as well as community activism. Wong-Tam grew up downtown after moving to Regent Park as “an immigrant child who spoke no English”, she says on her website. She’s clearly a go-getter. She got her real estate license at age 22, became one of the youngest sales managers at Coldwell Banker Canada, and later served as an advisor to the Toronto Chief of Police. These are just a few things on her mile-long list of accomplishments.

So what for Wong-Tam’s midtown constituents, those in South Riverdale and Summerhill and Chorley Park? Her website features a neighbourhood list of issues, with short videos on various topics. None address issues north of Bloor. She does, however, map out other issues for the northern part of her ward: traffic on Moore Avenue, population growth in Ramsden Park and heritage conservation in Rosedale and Summerhill, to name a few. She says she’ll meet with residents groups and businesses in the next 60 days to discuss ways of improving the local community. Ward 27 is a big ward that covers lots of different neighbourhoods. Hopefully there’s enough Wong-Tam to go around.

The reluctant daddy’s boy: Josh Colle He’s the son of longtime Eglinton-Lawrence MPP Mike Colle, but don’t think you’re dealing with any regular ol’ daddy’s boy. When he announced his intentions to seek the Ward 15 council seat, Colle the Younger made it clear that he’s carved his own political path. If anything, the one-time Catholic school board trustee is inheriting a boatload of work from his political predecessor, outgoing councillor Howard Moscoe. Colle will have his hands full with the controversial Lawrence Heights revitalization project, which has drawn the ire of many locals. Like many other politicians, Colle got his start fostering grassroots community projects. As a member of local

residential group 5 Points Community Action, Colle recently co-authored an action plan to revitalize the Oakwood and Vaughan area. The plan included input from residents, business, government and community groups. He plans to assert that collaborative approach at city hall. “There’s a real desire for that approach,” he said when he announced his candidacy. “We, the city, can be way more productive and residents can have a more proactive say.” And, Midtowners who want to see light rail transit on Eglinton Avenue also have an ally in Colle: He wholeheartedly supports it.

The newbie turned veteran: Karen Stintz With so many of her neighbouring reps retiring or upset, Karen Stintz’ role on council has changed: she’s now the veteran. Her easy win on election night — she won with over 60 percent of the vote — shows the councillor is established in her ward. Stintz was first elected in 2003, when she unseated then-incumbent Anne Johnston after ratepayers groups were upset about

Johnston’s support of the Yonge/Eglinton Minto Towers. Stintz got some flack pre-election over her support of some developments in the ward. But it seems area voters by and large were happy to send Stintz back to city hall for four more years. Keep an eye on if, and how, Stintz shows the newbie councillors the ropes now that she’s won her third term.

The papa bear: Joe Mihevc Ward 21 councillor Joe Mihevc said it loud and clear: Please, Toronto, anyone but Rob Ford. The people didn’t heed his cry, and on election night, Mihevc’s win was tempered by Ford’s. But the reelected longtime councillor has now put political differences aside and said he’ll try his best to work with the city’s new mayor. “Those of us who clearly endorsed other candidates have to appreciate that we have a new mayor in town and that democracy chose our mayor,” Mihevc said. “At the same time, democracy has also spoken and chosen a council to balance that (mayor’s) perspective.” We’ll have to see if veteran councillor Mihevc leads the way in Midtown,

where few candidates supported Ford’s stab at the mayoralty. Before the election, lefty Mihevc openly endorsed George Smitherman. Well, he endorsed a vote against Ford. Mihevc wrote: “Very simply, and without getting too personal, I have watched (Ford) for the last 10 years as a colleague on council, and Rob does not have the skill set required to lead a complex city hall and its agencies. Simple one-liners, an angry persona, a divisive disposition is not leadership and will only hurt Toronto. “Under Rob Ford, city council will not function, our city agencies will be in disarray, economic development

will be hurt and our city will suffer in many ways.” Ouch. Well, hopefully Ford doesn’t read Mihevc’s website, or else his olive branch might be stamped “return to sender”.

Queen of the castle: Jaye Robinson As a senior manager in the city’s economic development department, Jaye Robinson provided a helping hand in promoting tourism, culture and public-private partnerships. Now, after beating out incumbent councillor Cliff Jenkins in a squeaker of an election race, the mother of three is on the other side of council chambers. Given her background, Robinson naturally has her sights set on fixing the city’s money management skills, or lack thereof. But Robinson hasn’t lost sight of local issues in the seven years since she first sought the Don Valley West seat on council. In fact, as vice-president of the Lawrence Park Ratepayers’ Association, she’s taken an ongoing active role in her ward. As chair of the social justice committee at her church, she organized a series that focused on topics of crime, making neighbourhoods work and being good corporate citizens. Speakers included John Tory and Police Chief Bill Blair. Clearly, Robinson is just getting started. “I’m most excited to work on community development initiatives,” she said. “I want to promote and preserve neighbourhoods.” And Robinson has some serious familial connections the neighbourhoods she now represents. On her website, www.jayerobinson.com, she indicates her roots in Don Valley date back to the 1900s when her greatgrandfather settled in Hoggs Hollow. Could you get more local? NOVEMBER 2010 TORONTO TODAY 11

Profile

A modest vet BY JOSHUA FREEMAN

or four years after she graduated high school, almost no one knew where Isobel Duclos worked and lived. She toiled 12-hour shifts for three weeks straight every month, catching breaks to swim at a beach a safe distance from the mines surrounding her workplace. Aside from games of cards and pool, she had few other opportunities for social interaction. She could visit her parents once a month in Parry Sound, but couldn’t visit with anyone in Toronto when she went there to catch the train. Duclos wasn’t a spy, but she helped them out. That was nearly 70 years ago and her workplace was Camp X, a special facility between Oshawa and Whitby used to train spies and relay communications to allied forces during the Second World War. Duclos is one of the rare few who knows what Camp X looked like on the inside. “My mother was not too happy when I said I was leaving (to join the forces),” Duclos (nee Farr) says. “But it turned out alright.” The year was 1942 and fresh out of high school, like many teens of the time, Duclos decided to join the army. After completing basic training in Kitchener, Duclos and an American girl were assigned to the top secret facility set up by the allies to train spies. They were sworn to secrecy, as were Duclos’ parents, and they spent the remainder of the war at Camp X, sending and receiving coded messages for the allies. The work itself was not difficult — Duclos already knew Morse code from her father, who worked for the railroad— but it’s easy to imagine one might

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have gotten bored and lonely. Although she spent all day sending and receiving transmissions, she never knew the content of the messages, as they were coded. Ticker tapes at the end of her typewriter were carried to officials, ‘the older men’ as Duclos remembers them, who knew the code. “We were isolated, really,” Duclos says. “We had no social life, like dances.” But an upbeat attitude sustained her throughout. “It just seems I can find a happiness with everything I touch,” Duclos says. Of her time at Camp X she recalls long work hours, but also card games in the rec room, interesting people and beautiful scenery. “We were like a family. We had a lot of fun. There were boys, there were girls, there were men and women. We played cards, we played games. We very rarely left the camp.” In 1946, Duclos left Camp X for good. She met her husband at a dance in Sunnyside in Toronto and got married. They moved to Bedford Park where they’ve lived ever since.

Today, her daughter, son and three grandchildren don’t live far away. Although she’s nearly 90 now, she still remains active, golfing with her husband and curling regularly. She’s humble about her service and draws a clear distinction between her volunteerism during wartime and the war itself. “We weren’t in the war. We weren’t in the battles. At Camp X, we were a long way from Britain where they were actually fighting,” Duclos says. Perhaps, but at the same time she was part of an operation whose existence was so top secret not even prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King knew of it until it was suggested the camp be used as a hiding place for soviet defector Igor Gouzenko in 1945. As far as the public was informed, the place was a transmission station for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. However Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond spy novels, is said to have trained there as a soldier. As a result of its top-secret nature, none of the Camp X

personnel or graduates were formally recognized for their training or contributions. Although she volunteered four years of wartime service to the military, it wasn’t until last year that Duclos received medals from the military for having done so. More recently she was asked to speak to a group of schoolchildren about her experiences. “They were very interested in the war,” Duclos says. “And the Morse code—they just couldn’t wait to start using it.” Although she hasn’t used Morse code herself in decades, she now looks back on her wartime volunteering as a gift that still resonates with people. “Now, it’s getting even more interesting because people are interested in learning about it.” TT

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Arts&Entertainment

life is sweet BY LORIANNA DE GIORGIO

year-round greenhouse. A beach volleyball court. An artists’ colony of live-work studios and offices for non-profit arts and environment groups. Those are just some of the features of the Artscape Wychwood Barns — a two-year-old community initiative that has successfully turned forgotten streetcar maintenance buildings into a prized gem for Toronto’s Midtown community. The Barns are part of the family for contemporary mixed-media painter Susan Avishai. One of her daughters held her wedding in one of site’s community spaces this past summer. Avishai has rented a work studio in the main barn since 2008. She sees first hand the important connections artists and other tenants develop with the public. “I always wanted to be in a situation where they were a lot of artists around me,” she says. “But I just liked the idea of going somewhere every day…coming to a place where there is a lot of creative energy.” Opened in November 2008, the Christie Street site, south of St. Clair Avenue West, preserves the TTC barns — built between 1913 and 1921 — that hadn’t been used for 25 years. The $21.2 million redevelopment saw the barns converted into 26 units of housing for artists and their families, 15 affordable studio spaces, theatre spaces and art gallery, a com-

14 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

munity space that is used in the winter months for a farmers’ market, and 13 offices for nonprofit arts and environmental groups. It’s surrounded by 127,000 sq. ft. of parkland. “It is one of the best things that has happened to this area,” says Eddie Yanofsky, who has lived with his partner on nearby Hoken Avenue for 12 years. Yanofsky often checks out the farmers’ market on Saturday mornings, takes his dogs Basil and Walter for jaunts around the site and stops in to check out the work of some of the artists, many of whom he has become friends with over the past two years. He said the Barns is a fabulous

Community spirit thrives at Artscape Wychwood Barns

place to interact and meet other community members. It offers something for everyone, year round, he added. “It gives you a real sense of community … a real sense of history,” Yanofsky said. Non-profit arts group Artscape was chosen by the city in 2004 to manage the redevelopment. Artscape, which has transformed a number of derelict spaces into artist-friendly

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ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE: Top left, Glass blower Nadia Tasci and her painter husband Uros Jelic in their Artscape Wychwood Barns live/work studio. Bottom left, Jelic in their second studio space. Above, painter Susan Avishai in her studio.

spaces (including ones in Liberty Village, Parkdale and the Distillery District), worked with food security organization The Stop Community Food Centre to create a greenhouse, community bake oven and compost demonstration centre. They worked with Housing Connections to choose artists from an intensive interviewing process for the affordable housing units. Construction began in March 2007, and wrapped up in October 2008. The project was spearheaded by local councillor Joe Mihevc. Mexican-born artist Jesus Mora, who is one of the 26 artists who lives onsite, has rented a small live/work studio at the Barns since its opening. He sees the opportunity to live and work there as a way to foster a relationship with fellow artists and the general public. Mora, who regularly shows his work in Canada and Mexico, often opens up his studio to passersby. “It’s good for me as a painter to see what other people think,” Mora says. “For the community, the Barns creates a point of interest.” The environmentally friendly

building features energy efficient lighting, water conservative plumbing, geothermal heating and a water-reuse system. Outside, there is a playground, featuring water sprinklers in the summer months, chess and checkers tables, a fenced-off dog park, a community garden, and a open field for impromptu soccer games, and come winter, an ice skating rink. Glass blower Nadia Tasci and her husband Uros Jelic, a painter, say the low rent has allowed them to give up their day jobs in order to work as full-time artists. The couple and their cat moved into a one-bedroom unit in 2008 and this past summer secured a small studio in the main barn. Tasci makes her glass jewellery in the couple’s home studio, while Jelic uses the newly acquired studio to paint. “It’s a high-profile building,” Tasci says. “There’s a lot of curiosity, it’s very unique, it draws a lot of very ‘in people’ and it gives us a lot of exposure and that is a huge benefit for emerging artists like us.” TT NOVEMBER 2010 TORONTO TODAY 15

Kids&Families

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Skating

101 16 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

Help your little one get steady on the ice BY RANDY ROVINSKI

very winter, little ones across the city can be seen stumbling out onto the ice. Little Michelin men and women bundled in colourful winter jackets and mitts, heads engulfed in helmets that seem to take up half their bodies. Parents across the city have a rewarding yet challenging task ahead of them: teaching their kids to skate. Fundamentally Canadian, ice skating is also a great way of keeping you and your kids active through the winter. So whether you choose to teach your little ones yourself or enroll them in lessons, here are some things to think about.

Getting Started What’s the ideal age to get your kids started without being overzealous? “Three- or four-year-olds are ideal,” says Matthew Solarski, skating director of Central Toronto Skating Club. “They’re pretty resilient, they’re quick to learn, and they’re close to the ground so when they fall down it doesn’t hurt that much.”

Tools of the trade The next logical step is equipment. Anyone who’s been on skates knows the pain of an awkward fit. So when you’re outfitting your munchkins with a set of skates, go for comfort. “Don’t cheap out on equipment,” Solarski says. “You’re never going to get a kid to start learning and have fun if they’re in pain.” That doesn’t necessarily mean an expensive pair of new skates though. Find a skate shop with patient staff, expertise and competency in fitting skates, and a good skate exchange policy. “The guys at Sportchek will tend to do a proper fitting ... I’ve had a lot of success with them,” Solarski says. Those of you hitting the ice with your

children should heed that same advice. “Typically, parents dig up an old pair that are about 15 years old that are really uncomfortable,” said Minnow Hamilton, founder and director of www.savvymom.ca. “If you have a pair you actually look forward to wearing, you will get on the ice more and that’s the best way to get your kids skating,” she said. The other aspect that Solarski stressed was safety. “Buy a kid a helmet with a hockey facemask on it,” he said. Whether it’s a clear facemask or a full cage, keeping your kids’ entire face protected is a significant concern with the number of falls they’ll be taking and the sharp skates, which will be flailing clumsily nearby. Choose the right classes and instructor “The biggest indicator of success in any program [in the 3-6 year old age group] is really instructor- based,” says Tania Tomilko of www.torontomommy.com. If you do opt for the organized lessons, try to find an experienced instructor. Experience, as in most areas, is

frequently associated with age and you may find yourself a grandparent-like figure who is simply enthusiastic to be out on the ice with the kids. Tomilko is quick to remind, however, that her own children had been taught by an instructor in his early 20s with experience teaching a range of skills to a range of ages. So the take home message is: look for experience. Focus on the fun “Good instructors know how to focus on the fun and still continue the progress of skills,” Tomilko said. Your kids don’t necessarily need the

formal instruction though, and it’s the fun they have that will turn your toddlers into future Gretzkys (or at least have them back on the ice next season). Taking them out on the ice yourself for an informal lesson without set goals in mind is a good way of having some family fun and getting the kids enthusiastic about skating. Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation website (www.toronto.ca/parks/) is a good place to start. It has a comprehensive list of arenas, outdoor rinks and skating programs on offer around the city. Whatever you decide this season, be patient and have fun. TT

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Fashion

GET THE LOOK: Midtown mom Yael Panet, left, looks cool yet comfortable in this on-the-go outfit. Above, Fashionista T-shirt Lucky Seven from Stylexchange, $29.95. Levi’s leggings, available at Levi’s store, $75. Below, stay warm and spruce up your outfit with a scarf. Old Navy $14.50. Stay organized and look good with a tote bag from Le Chateau, Signature Suede-Like Tote Bag $79.95 (PRODUCT PHOTOS, EXCEPT LEVI’S, COURTESY PROMENADE MALL. YAEL PANET PHOTO BY FRANCIS CRESCIA.)

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18 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

his month, Toronto Today caught up with midtown stylista Yael Panet in her Yonge Street and Craighurst Avenue area neighbourhood to get the goods on what the busy mom and business woman wears as she juggles mommy duties and client meetings. A personal stylist who co-owns midtown-based Hush Couture (www.hushcouture.ca, which will soon be re-launching as a “where to find it” Canadian fashion website), Panet is up on the season’s fashion trends, sharing her fashion knowledge as the Promenade Mall’s “Fashion Guru” and a weekly mom’s fashion columnist for Erica Ehm’s “Yummy Mummy Club.” Panet pulled a casual yet chic autumn ensemble from her closet that provides a sleek contrast to the electric foliage this time of year. To get her look, think classic basics like brown-tone leather mixed with must-have accessories such as a Missoni-like scarf and trendy aviator-style sunglasses. TT

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Health

Studio offers mobility help BY TRISTAN CARTER

ith a dozen surprisingly limber people stretching amid the lonely canes, walkers and empty motorized scooters scattered about the studio, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take long to realize this class at Body Harmonics is not your typical workout. Then again, pilates is not your typical exercise. The bright space at Body Harmonicsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dupont and Christie Street location has no mirrors. Unlike some traditional exercises, pilates is not preoccupied with burning fat or building mass. Rather, it is more concerned with increasing flexibility and strength by concentrating on controlled, efficient movement, says studio owner Margot McKinnon. Because controlled movement is the focal point of pilates, it can be especially helpful to those with Parkinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease or multiple sclerosis, diseases that hinder mobility. McKinnonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studio offers a variety of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;neuroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; classes, which cater to people suffering from neurological disorders. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada) approached us because they had a couple of people that were coming here as actual participants,â&#x20AC;? McKinnon said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They could see the applicability for the population and they liked our approach to movement and movement education. So we partnered with them and initially created the program that way.â&#x20AC;? Angelo Kostanas lives with multiple sclerosis and has been participating in the neuro classes for a couple of years. He says what he enjoys most is the time spent seeing others and keeping active. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use it, you lose it,â&#x20AC;? Kostanas said while sitting on his exercise mat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By taking this class you get away from being stagnant. I know others that have diseases, they just lie there and do nothing and that eventually catches up to you and becomes worse for you.â&#x20AC;? Penny Kennedy started at Body Harmonics as a client but is

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now the instructor for Kostanas’ class. She describes the group as boisterous, but says the health benefits extend beyond the opportunity to socialize. The workouts have such a positive effect on one participant in the class that afterwards she is typically able to walk without the aid of her cane for up to four hours. McKinnon said she doesn’t teach the neuro class herself because she gets too emotional. Kennedy, the current instructor, says that although that was an issue at first, she now draws strength from being with the group. “When I first started I would sometimes go home and have a good cry,” Kennedy said. “Now it’s really joyful for me because I see improvements and I see the positive effect I have on people’s lives.” Body Harmonics has now completely taken over the neuro program and subsidizes the cost for participants. They also offer a ‘Starving Artist’ class at a significantly reduced rate that is geared to performers with physically demanding occupations. McKinnon started Body Harmonics in 1996, and now has two locations. She has trained over 1,200 certified instructors from across the world. One of her trainees currently teaches pilates to the Cirque de Soleil troupe to help keep them in shape. She estimates that 80 percent of her clients are female but she’s seeing more and more men starting to join as well as a handful of other demographics. The attention paid to smaller, supporting muscle groups has attracted athletes worried about injury prevention and those going through injury rehabilitation have found pilates ideal due to its low-impact nature. “We take the same approach whether its neuro or high-end athletes,” McKinnon said. “It’s just at a different level, at a different speed.” And while some may dismiss pilates as a fad, McKinnon is proud of her client retention rate. “There’s lots of research that shows it’s great to have goals, but that is over focused on,” McKinnon said. “What makes people stick to anything … is it enjoyable, are they feeling good, are they feeling successful, is it fun?” TT

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5 ways to forget the election

eporter Randy Rovinski admits it: he’s kind of tired of hearing about elections. Here he gives you some ideas to help rid your mind of campaign promises, political pundits and ballot boxes.

‘Tis the Season for LEDs! The festive season is almost upon us and in the spirit of giving, Toronto Hydro is offering our customers 1 free set of multi-coloured LED lights in exchange for 2 sets of incandescent seasonal lights.* Join us at our 7th annual Festive Light Exchanges across the city. Rosedale Mainstreet BIA Location: Scrivener Square - Outside L.C.B.O. Date: Saturday November 27 Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. For details about your local event, visit www.torontohydro.com/FLEX

For details about your local event, visit torontohydro.com/FLEX * Maximum of 500 strings of LED lights will be available at each event, each day. One string per family while supplies last. Offer is extended to City of Toronto residents only. The figure and star design is a registered trademark of Toronto Hydro Corporation under license. "Toronto Hydro" means Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited.

22 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

Forget the gravy train... If Ford’s slogan on endless repeat has provoked an aversion to railway vehicles, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train (above) is just what the doctor prescribes. In 1999, CP and the national food sharing program paired up in this initiative to combat hunger. The CP Holiday Train serves as a means of raising awareness for the cause and collecting food and money for food banks. Not only will you be given piece of mind for your good deed (perhaps much needed just before the holidays?), you’ll be instantly rewarded by a barrage of light and sound that’ll have the most stoic of people twitching with pleasure. The train is outfitted with a fire hazard’s worth of Christmas lights and a boxcar stage for performing musicians at each stop. The train rolls into Toronto on Mon., Nov. 29 at 7p.m. 87 Ethel Ave., next to Runnymede Park.

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Let’s be classy For those of you who have been driven to drink, at least do it in style. And maybe an accompanying meal will help prevent an embarrassing eventuality. The annual Gourmet Food & Wine Expo will be taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from Nov. 18-21. With over 1,500 wines, spirits and beers available to choose from, it’s a great opportunity to buff up your repertoire of alcoholic references for dates and dinner parties. With wines from across the globe and tutored tastings, the expo may be one of the most fun and concurrently educational events happening in November. Whether you’re a veteran oenophile or gourmand, a novice with a taste for adventure, or need a few hours of adult time with a significant other (19+ event, no children permitted), the expo is sure to satisfy your needs. General admission is $16. See www.foodan dwineexpo.ca for tickets and details. If you want a more intimate food and drink setting, Culinarium on Mount Pleasant offers perfect pairing tastings where instructors walk you through their matches and show you how to pour, serve and savour. Each evening is dedicated to an Ontario cheese and its perfect pair. Next up: Bubbles and Brie on Dec. 1. Registration and course fee required. Visit www.culinarium.ca.

A breath of fresh air Wander through a flooded quarry, trek through wooded trails, visit a native plant garden, and keep an eye out for wildlife aficionados crouching in the bushes counting insect species. Situated off Bayview just south of Pottery Road, Evergreen Brick Works and its surrounding Don Valley Brick Works Park are oases in the midst of the city. The park is a peaceful enclave where you can calm your post-election nerves and the facility has a number of scheduled events and activities to choose from. Stretch and meditate at a yoga class or shop for fresh local produce on Saturdays at the farmer’s market. All the while know that you’re supporting a green, sustainable, community initiative. In fact, it was even highlighted by National Geographic as one of 10 global geotourism sites to visit. http://ebw. evergreen.ca/

A creative outlet While peering into political candidates’ craniums yielded less than fascinating findings, Toronto will get a chance to look into a truly imaginative mind on Nov. 26. Tiff Bell Lightbox will be hosting the Tim Burton Exhibition and Retrospective organized by New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Burton is best known for his creative and frequently dark depictions of fantastic worlds and characters in his many films. He has, however, been a prolific visual artist as will be demonstrated in the upcoming exhibition. A collection of paintings, drawings, costumes, storyboards and other works are

Explosive endings The seemingly endless race is over and it’s at times been colourful and at other times been downright dirty. It may even be out of your mind by now, but why not enjoy a distraction from whatever it is that ails you with one of the most classically simple and entertaining spectacles ever to provoke “oohs” and “ahhs” — fireworks. On Nov. 27, Nathan Phillips Square will host Toronto’s 44th annual Cavalcade of Lights. It’ll be a sensory overload – in a good way – of light and sound with the lighting of Toronto’s official Christmas tree, live music and...fireworks! TT

intended to give a more complete picture of Burton’s more expansive vision. Creep yourself out with Sweeney Todd and Edward Scissorhands or catch a few glimpses into Burton’s lesser known works. Film screenings, art, and props will give a good overview of his work and progress. Opens Nov. 26. Tickets on sale at www.tiff.net/ timburton.

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Tel: 416.482.5855 Fax: 416.482.8141 mbc293@mbc.ca www.mbc.ca/293

“Make the Most of Your Money” Financial Literacy and Money Management Forum presented by P.O.I.N.T. Inc. and sponsored by Credit Canada. Financial Information Fair, and Money Management Seminars at 2:00, 4:00, and 6:00pm. Free door prizes and refreshments provided. Newcomers and Youth especially welcome. Monday, November 15, 2010 – 1:00pm – 6:00pm. North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Avenue West, 1st Fl. For more information, visit www.pointinc.org or call POINT @416-487-2390.

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Fall fun T

here’s no shortage of things to do in Midtown. Get out and have fun! Do you want to list an event in the calendar? Email calendar@mytowncrier.ca or call 416-785-4300. For more listings, visit www.mytowncrier.ca and check out the online version for lots more great things to do in the community.

Sat., Nov. 20 Try your hand at archery at an adults-only workshop at Casa Loma. Hands-on workshop suited to beginners. 1–4 p.m. For ages 14 and older. Pre-registration required. $31 (plus HST). 416-923-1171 ext. 215. Sat., Nov. 27 Food drive at Pande Family Wellness Centre. 2221 Yonge St. Suite 504. www.pande. ca. Current patients who bring a minimum of five food donations can get a free chiropractic adjustment from 9 a.m.–noon. 416486-1234. The clinic’s goal is to raise at least 50 pounds of food. Holiday bazaar at Toronto German School. Shop for gifts, enjoy a coffee and a homemade cake while your children participate in lots of activities— face painting, storytelling and games. Fun for the whole family with games and prizes, too. 2–5 p.m. 416922-6413. www.torontogermanschool.com/ Sun., Nov. 28 Alternative Giving Fair in the gym at Trinity St. Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor St. West, noon to 4 p.m. The fair will feature art and crafts of local artisans and fair trade handicrafts from around the world. $5 lunch will be available. For information contact Ann Russell, russell.ann73@gmail.com. Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12 Who’s that jolly man wandering through Shops at Don Mills? Yes, you guessed it: Santa Claus. The man in red and one of his furry helpers will visit the shops to spread joy and hand out treats. Noon– 4 p.m. Wagon rides, too. shopsatdonmills.ca. 41624 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

447-0618. 1090 Don Mills Rd. Sun., Dec. 5 Once Upon a Starry Night, A Christmas Children’s Musical by children, 4-12. St. John’s York Mills Church, 19 Don Ridge Rd. Starts at 2 p.m. Admission $5 minimum donation. For more information, call 416225-6611. Sun., Dec. 5, 12, 19 RBC Public Skate Days at Leaside Gardens, 1073 Millwood Rd. 3– 4:30 p.m. 416-4251124. The Laird and Wicksteed branch sponsors free skating events. Prizes and special guests. Until Dec. 12 The Year of Magical Thinking, a production of The Belfry Theatre (Victoria, British Columbia). In this dramatic adaptation of Joan Didion’s award-winning memoir, one woman grapples with the sudden loss of her husband of 40 years and their only child. Seana McKenna will reprise her performance from Belfry Theatre’s production. Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave. 416531-1827. www.tarragontheatre.com. Until Dec. 12 World premiere of Wide Awake Hearts. A prodigious young film producer/screenwriter casts his wife and his best friend as lovers in his new film. When their on-screen intimacy spills over into real life, he has to wonder: did he unwittingly clue in to a preexisting affair and give it life on screen, or did he actually write it into existence? Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave. 416-5311827. www.tarragontheatre.com.

FRANCIS CRESCIA/TORONTO TODAY

THE SUN was shining on Midtown last month. Top, Thomas Haugh plays at Yonge/Lawrence Park. Above, Peter Filimonov and his golden retriever Sam. Below, North Toronto student Ryan Sheridan heads home after school.

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Dining

PROPer pasta on the menu BY LIZ CAMPBELL

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2425 Yonge St.

416.322.6184 www.amoretrattoria.ca

Monday-Thursday 11:30AM-10:30PM Friday 11:30AM-11:00PM Saturday 10:30AM-11:00PM, Sunday 10:30AM-10:00PM Weekend Brunch 10:30AM-4:00PM

NOW ACCEPTING HOLIDAY RESERVATIONS 26 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

t seems to me thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only one restaurant designer left in Toronto. A member of the minimalist design school, his/her palette consists of coffee in all its shades â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from blackest espresso to creamiest cafe au lait. For just a moment, it makes one long for the Victorian kitsch of Edâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Warehouse, where noise was absorbed by dozens of embellishments and acres of carpet. At the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of Pasta (PROP), bare tables and floors echo every moved pot in the open kitchen as a resounding crash. Music? I know itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the background somewhere. The wine list has a good selection, mostly Italian, and all for a very reasonable $39 a bottle. We start with a pleasant Valpolicella served in capacious glasses that allow the wine to breathe. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light and very drinkable. My guest is hungry so starts with soup and an appetizer. Oddly, these come together so, inevitably, one is cold by the time he gets to it. Zuppa Carnevale â&#x20AC;&#x201C; named for the chef â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is capon broth with rice, strips of mozzarella and ginger ($6). I had heard this was excellent, but to my taste itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little greasy and flat â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there simply isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough ginger to really lift the bland rice and mozzarella beyond the mundane. But my guest finishes every mouthful. The appetizer of asparagus spears with a parmesan sauce ($9) is also disappointing. The sauce is superb, creamy and flavourful, but the asparagus is unsatisfactorily soft. This might be the result of its wait in a hot sauce while the soup was consumed. My own appetizer, on the other hand, is a revelation. Grilled polenta is topped with a rich ragout of crimini and porcini mushrooms ($8). A host of textures and flavours really make this dish sing. I finish every gorgeous forkful. Spaghetti Carnevale sounds so intriguing that my guest canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resist trying it. A blend of caramelized red onions and fat Black Mission figs tossed with garlic and olive oil works remarkably well ($17). The flavours easily infuse the thin strands of spaghetti in a nicely balanced dish. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every mouthful has different flavours going on,â&#x20AC;? my guest raves. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delicious.â&#x20AC;? I spot chestnut risotto on the menu â&#x20AC;&#x201C; only available seasonally, it says. Of course, I ask and yes, it has just been included. I feel like Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve won a prize. Now this chef knows his risotto. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s absolutely gorgeous. Plump pieces of chestnut abound in a delicate risotto cooked to perfection with just a small bite in the rice ($18) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the pinnacle of risottos. A gentle grating of nutmeg perfectly finished the dish. So far, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a happy diner, but alas, this is about to change. From a large list of desserts only two are made in house, so we choose those. My brandy and rum custard sponge cake ($8) is a layered confection with chocolate and plain custard layers, a hint of something alcoholic and not much else. It is dry and even a really good cup of accompanying coffee ($2) doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help. Zuppa Inglese is the Italian answer to trifle. Traditionally, fingers of sponge cake are dipped in Alchermes liqueur and covered in thick custard. My guestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version has powdered chocolate on top as well ($8) but neither of us is particularly impressed with it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It tastes much better than yours,â&#x20AC;? my guest points out, an undoubted advantage. The desserts are a surprising let-down after the excellent main courses. Before PROP, Trattoria Giancarlo and College Street Bar were the old stomping grounds for Giancarlo Carnevale and Marlene Simone. Their move to this rapidly gentrifying St. Clair neighbourhood just west of Bathurst, should encourage others to follow suit. Would we recommend this spot? You bet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both the pasta and risotto were heavenly. But maybe you could try Metropolitanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fig and port ice cream for dessert instead. PROP, 770 St. Clair West. 416-792-3313. The bill says the website is www.prop.ca but it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appear to exist. TT

Risotto reigns BY LIZ CAMPBELL

o We Cater! p 1 Party Trays 1 uggest Italian food and what do you think of first? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be willing to bet youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say pasta. But did you know that Italy is the largest European producer of rice? Rice was brought into the Po Valley in the 14th century by Venetian and Genoese merchants, and rapidly became the basis for one of Italyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gifts to the gastronomic world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; risotto. Many countries make rice-based dishes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; jambalaya, paella, pilaf, biryani â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but no other cuisine prepares it with the starchier Carnaroli, Arborio or Vialone nano varieties. These absorb the broth, becoming fat and succulent. True risotto is an art â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a careful juxtaposition of creaminess and slightly al dente grains of rice. The creaminess in good risotto has nothing to do with dairy products, but is a result of starch being released during cooking. The key is to use the right kind of rice and to add hot liquid slowly during the cooking process. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probable that the original risotto was Milanese â&#x20AC;&#x201C; golden with the threads of saffron that suffuse it. But risotto can be made with many different vegetables, meats, fish, seafood and legumes. The broth can be chicken, vegetable or beef, but white wine is essential. At PROP on St. Clair, chef Giancarlo Carnevale has several risottos on the menu including white bean, beet and Nero (made with cuttlefish ink). Many of the recipes are family ones, but my favourite is his own personal creation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; chestnut risotto. He uses Carnaroli rice because its medium grain â&#x20AC;&#x153;stays true and holds its texture.â&#x20AC;? And he uses his own capon broth. The dish can be made truly vegetarian by using vegetable broth. Guests can request this at the restaurant as well.

Cheese Platters 1 Custom Cakes Great Sandwiches 1 Fresh Baking 1 On-Site Grilling 1 .

416.925.7665 Basic risotto â&#x20AC;&#x201C; usually called Risotto in Bianco â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is simply made with rice, stock, wine and generous quantities of parmesan cheese. Try this basic risotto recipe and vary it by adding the appropriate broth and ingredients. For example, a really superb mushroom risotto can be achieved by soaking dry porcini in just enough hot stock to cover. The resulting mushroomscented broth is used for preparing the risotto and portobello, oyster, cremini and shiitake mushrooms can be either grilled or sautĂŠed and added to the risotto. Chef Giancarloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chestnut Risotto 1/4 cup white onions, chopped 2 tbsp butter 1/4 cup olive oil 1 cup Carnaroli rice 1-1.5 cups capon, chicken or veggie broth 1/4 cup parmesan cheese 10 chestnuts, boiled, peeled and coarsely chopped 1 tbsp. butter Grated nutmeg to taste

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Saute the onions in butter and olive oil in a 12-inch pan. Add the rice and slowly stir in 1/4 cup broth. Keep stirring until absorbed but not soft. Keep adding broth broth and stirring until rice is cooked. Add the chestnuts, butter and parmesan cheese and stir together well. Top with a grating of fresh nutmeg. Serve. TT

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Pick the right rice for perfect risotto Rules of Risotto:

BEST I

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1) Always use the superfine grade of a good Italian rice variety like Carnaroli, Vialone Nano, Balso or Arborio 2) Use the best quality olive oil to cook the onion and garlic 3) Use a heavy pan so heat is distributed evenly and the rice doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stick on the bottom and never cover during the cooking 4) Always preheat the stock before adding it 5) Stir, stir, stir â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is this process that brings out the starch to make it creamy 6) Always cover and rest for 3 minutes after removing from heat to allow the last of the liquid to be absorbed and the mixture to become creamy 7) Never overcook. The rice should be slightly al dente

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Business

Do you know a business star? Where do you shop in Midtown Toronto? What are your favourite clothing stores, gift shops, restaurants or services? Does your local favourite shopkeeper have a story to tell? If you own a business or know of a business that you’d like to see featured on Toronto Today’s business page, drop us a line at news@mytowncrier.ca with the subject line Business Star. Or, call 416-785-4311 ext. 234. Let’s work together to highlight the energetic and savvy business owners that make Midtown Toronto what it is — a great place to live, work and play (and shop!)

Ask the experts Please write to our experts: If you would like to take advantage of their years of experience, send your questions to “Ask the Experts” and they will be happy to reply to you in this space. By E-mail: adsales@ towncrieronline.ca, by Fax: 416-488-3671 or write: Ask the Experts, c/o Town Crier, 101 Wingold Ave., Toronto, ON, M6B 1P8. Marc Linett, a partner in the personal injury law firm of Linett & Timmis, has been practicing accident and insurance litigation in Toronto for over 35 years. His firm has established a solid reputation representing thousands of injured victims and their families throughout Ontario.

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: I was at a shopping plaza the other day when I slipped and fell on a spill on the floor in one of the common areas. It looked like melted ice cream, maybe pistachio! I fractured my wrist and hurt my back. I am a homemaker with three toddlers. I can’t look after them or my house. I have had to hire someone to clean and to help with the kids until my husband gets home from work in the evening. Do I have any recourse?

: The operators of the plaza have an obligation to keep its premises reasonably safe for the use of its patrons. The spill you describe was likely made by another patron who will never be identified. Whether the plaza can be held liable will likely depend on whether it can show that it took reasonable steps to inspect and clean its premises on a regular and timely basis. If negligence can be established on the plaza, your damages may include amounts for pain and suffering, your medical and rehabilitation expenses and the cost of hiring a cleaner and child care helper. Your family members may also have a claim for their loss of your care and companionship. You should record the names of any witnesses to the accident and report the incident to the mall manager. Do not sign any documents before seeking the advice of a lawyer experienced in personal injury litigation.

28 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

Entrepreneurial spirit strong in Midtown BY SHARON KO

ig-box companies undoubtedly take a heavy toll on many smaller businesses — local, entrepreneurial ones, especially. But take a stroll through Midtown and you’ll see the entrepreneurial spirit is very much alive and well. From boutique to galleries to cafes, from Mount Pleasant to St. Clair to Summerhill, savvy and strong-willed business owners put their hearts and souls into their ventures. Bev Ardith has been in the Yonge-Lawrence Village area for over three decades. Her shop, Ardith One, Canadian Pottery & Crafts, represents over 60 potters from across Canada. It was launched in 1971 by Ardith and Bill Don (photo above). But before they opened their doors and established themselves as longtime business owners and entrepreneurs — for 34 years, that is — the Ardith One co-owners did their homework. “If you’re starting from scratch, you have to allow a certain amount of time to build your business,” Ardith said. “Unless you’re some kind of overnight sensation, and done a great deal of publicizing yourself, I think you have to really think it through”. Part of the research involves choosing the right locality. “It’s all about location, location, location,” Ardith said. “You have to rely immediately on the people who are in the area.

“This is not an industrialized area. This is not a strip plaza. We have residents all around us.” But even in an area booming with people, there are challenges. Business may still not be guaranteed all-year round. Judy Kusoglo, owner of CashmereNess, a clothing shop in Mount Pleasant, said the summers in this area are really challenging. “A lot of people seem to go away,” Kusoglu said. “Some of the restaurants even close down for August. “Then autumn comes around and it picks up again.” Though business fluctuates and challenges abound, there still seems to be a strong entrepreneurial spirit. “I believe this is a really strong area,” Kusoglu said. “I could build up a really good clientele here.” The entrepreneurial feeling may stem from the advantages of starting your own business. “You get to be your own boss,” Bev said. Being your own superior, however, means you have to advertise yourself. “It’s very much get out there and promote yourself, and not sit back quietly and expect people to come to you,” Kusoglu said. “It’s your own decisions. You can make or break it, and it takes a hell of a lot of energy.” TT

It’s all about location, location, location

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www.mytowncrier.ca NOVEMBER 2010 TORONTO TODAY 29

Eyes on multiculturalism BY J.L. GRANATSTEIN

“ hen I would speak at the United Nations on anything that had to do with human rights or human security, I (always) got a very respectful hearing,” recalled one experienced Canadian diplomat. Why? The ambassador explained: “In terms of welcoming others and integrating them into society, nobody does it better than we do … and we get a lot of credit for that in the international community.” Canadian multiculturalism, in other words, is something the world admires as perhaps the most recognized and celebrated characteristic of Canadian citizenship. The Aga Khan, the leader of the globe’s Ismaili Muslims, for one, has proclaimed that Canada has done a superlative job in bringing peoples of disparate race, ethnicity, and religion together. The celebrated urban thinker Richard Florida pronounced Canada’s multiculturalism its “mosaic principle…one of the core enduring principles of our economy and society,” and the Globe and Mail’s national columnist John Ibbitson called the country’s “robust multicultural identity” the key to “preventing the emergence of a race-based underclass” like that in the United States and Western Europe. Certainly Canadians are proudly polite, generally tolerant and relatively uncomplaining, making Canada perhaps the best nation in which to make the difficult idea of multiculturalism work. There is much patting ourselves on the back here, of course, and it is worth recalling Montreal historian Desmond Morton’s comment that “In the Olympics of self-admiration, Canadians would compete eagerly — for their traditional bronze medal.” But what is Canadian multiculturalism and where did it come from? The major political and cultural issues of the 1960s in Canada centred on French-Canadian/English-Canadian relations, and the rapid rise of nationaliste/indépendantiste sentiment in Quebec led the federal government to establish a Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism in 1963. The commission eventually produced a host of recommendations, some of which were adopted, but an unintended result was that other ethnic groups, notably Ukrainian-Canadians, began to fear that they were being left out as the two “founding peoples” tried to deal with their historic differences. Such pressure soon forced the Royal Commission to consider the contribution of other ethnic groups to the cultural enrichment of Canada. The commission recommended the integration (not assimilation) into Canadian society of ethnic groups with full citizenship rights and equal participation in Canada’s institutional structure. In other words, Canada was not to be a melting pot like the United States where everyone blended down into Americans. Instead, Canada was to be a mosaic, like a tile floor where the pieces were separate but joined into a whole. The commission’s recommendations led to a policy on multiculturalism announced in October 1971. Its main aims were to assist ethnic groups to retain and foster their identity and to overcome the barriers to their full participation in Canadian society. At the same 30 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

time, they could keep their right to identify with select elements of their cultural past if they so chose. In effect, multiculturalism policy aimed to integrate immigrants (and second and third generations) by offering them equal rights and opportunities; in return, they were expected to accept the ideas and rules that shaped and led Canadian society. The aim was that multiculturalism would help immigrants to integrate into Canadian culture and come to view their lives — and their children’s opportunities — as tied into a full range of Canadian social institutions, based on a common language (either English or French). Ottawa created a Department of Multiculturalism, allocated money to it, and soon a variety of programmes were up and running. There was great need for this new idea of a multicultural Canada. Canadians were generally a tolerant people, but there had been terrible outbreaks of racism or acts of violence and hate against immigrants from certain parts of the world. Blacks had been treated shamefully, for example, and prejudice against Chinese, Japanese, and Indian immigrants had been strong. Efforts to keep Asians out of Canada had been put into law, and during World War II Japanese-Canadians had been forcibly moved off the West Coast into the British Columbia interior to meet public demands. And it wasn’t only those of different races who suffered. Jews faced discrimination in Canada, and the government turned its back on refugees trying escape Hitler’s Europe. Many Ukrainians had been interned during World War I because they came from part of the AustroHungarian Empire with which Canada was at war; that

they did not support that Empire did not matter. But that was all history now. Canada was setting out to change the way it thought and acted. There would be no more efforts to make immigrants to Canada into good Anglo- or Franco-Canadians. There was to be no melting pot, no attempt to assimilate newcomers. Now each immigrant could keep his or her culture and, what was more, the Canadian government would help in this task. It was a new idea for a changing nation. But would it work? Would “old” Canadians accept it? That was the key question. Historian J.L. Granatstein is editor of “The Canadian Experience” and he writes on Canadian politics, foreign policy and defence. Next Instalment: Multiculturalism and its Problems TT

The Canadian Experience is a 52-week history series designed to tell the story of our country to all Canadians. Sponsored by Multimedia Nova Corporation and Diversity Media Services/Lingua Ads partners, the series features articles by our country’s foremost historians on a wide range of topics. Past articles and author bios are available at http://www.cdnexperience.ca. The Canadian Experience is copyright © 2010-2011 Multimedia Nova Corporation.

Automotive

Audio centre stage in Scion BY MATHIEU YUILL

recent research paper says the youngest average new car buyer for any car brand is 40 years old. But Toyota hopes to lower that average by introducing their Scion brand to the Canadian market. Scion has been around in the United States since 2003, but this September the brand made its Canadian debut with three models, the mini-van esque xB, a five-door hatch xD and two-door coupe tC. The xB’s looks put it apart from the initial group. It has the same boxy but urban feel as the Honda Element. It’s 2.4-litre engine produces a modest 158 horsepower and, while it doesn’t inspire comparisons to tuned up imports, it does a good job of zooming around the urban landscape. Audio takes centre stage in the interior with a flashy but appropriate-styled Pioneer head unit with included iPod connectivity. An upgraded 200-watt system includes a user-friendly 4.3inch touch screen that produced quality audio right through the volume range. The base level unit provides one RCA outlet allowing you to add an extra amplifier or subwoofer and the upgrade provides three. This is a unique feature in today’s automobiles that often feature a stereo system that is integrated into the vehicle that doesn’t take kindly to upgrades. The interior features a lot of plastic, but that shouldn’t be surprising given the vehicle’s base price of just over $18,000. Optional leather heated seats spruce up the interior and come with a price tag of $1,975. In fact, there are a lot of upgrades and accessories available for the xB and the entire Scion line and most of them are fairly appealing. The tester I drove came equipped with sharp alloy wheels, the TRD big brake kit and a carbon fibre shift knob. All said and done it made up

for about another $5,000 in options but it’s just as easy to spend the same amount of money and have the vehicle lowered, upgrade the exhaust and have front and rear strut and sway bars installed making for a firmer, sportier ride. It actually makes customizing pretty easy instead of having to root around the Internet trying to find aftermarket parts. The big brake kit proved its worth a few times: when a dog ran out in front of the car on a side street and when a car ran a red light late in front of me late one night. It’s hard for brakes to impress but the difference between these and stock was outstanding. While all Scions are affordable none of them are priced in the economy class yet, but the iQ model being introduced in 2011 shows promise to compete for those entry-level buyers. TT

Big brake kit proved its worth a few times

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Cozy comfort in your home BY MARY FRAN MCQUADE

ears have the right idea about getting ready for winter. Gobble up as many goodies as you can, then crawl into a nice, warm burrow and sleep through it all. Unfortunately, we humans can’t get away with that. No matter how dark the day, how cold the wind, how thick the snow, we have to stay upright and functioning. It’s just not fair. You can make fall and winter’s chill easier to get through, though, by making some changes in your own home’s interior. Simply put, in summer we strip things down, embrace the light and look outwards. In fall/winter, it’s time to pile on the layers, sink into dark, cozy comfort, and focus inwards on hearth and home.

Lay it on We dress in layers in colder weather; it only makes sense that we dress our homes in layers, too. If you’ve been enjoying summer-bare floors, now’s the time to bring out warm carpets and throw rugs. They’re one of the quickest ways to winterize a room, and you don’t have to spend a bundle on them. Change airy and lacy curtains for heavier drapes, perhaps in deeper colours. They’ll shut out the cold and on bright days you can always yank them open. Though you can’t switch furnishings, you can add layers to those, too. Round up bunches of squooshy pillows and add them to your sofas. They’d be suffocating in summer, but you’ll find them snuggly and welcoming in the months

ahead. You can even pop a pillow or cushion on bare wooden chairs for that all-over comfort effect. Throws of all kinds are made for the colder seasons. Bring out the afghan Great Aunt Mary crocheted for you, or that crafty woven piece you got as a Christmas gift. Both are fine for over sofa backs—and you, on chilly evenings while you read or watch TV. You can even make your own out of a swathe of fleece fabric. No sewing required—just measure carefully and cut with scissors or pinking shears. Dark and cozy No one wants to be out there exposed to cold, wet winds and rain or snow. That’s why we instinctively seek out

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Sports

The Game Fixer Brian Baker

Northern gets fit

Red-hot defender BY BRIAN BAKER

idden in the labyrinthine halls of Northern Secondary School, in the earliest of Friday morns, teacher Daniel Gana gets the blood flowing through the veins of Northern students. It started as a dryland practice for the Red Knights swim team. Now it’s evolved into Get Fit Friday, a program guaranteed to frighten away the shadows of lethargy in teens without the use of caffeine. “Here are people, what are they doing at 7 o’clock in the morning? Probably nothing, just lazing around,” Gana says. “It’s a thing where the students get to know each other, they get to know the program and they feel comfortable.” I have to give props to Northern’s phys. ed. department for doing that extra rep for students. About a year ago, I had the opportunity to cover the midtown school’s healthy lifestyle program. It proves faculties across the city are not just paying lip service to the health of their students. “We’re using fitness to promote confidence and to promote a sense of community in the school,” Gana says. “I’m not trying to battle obesity, we’re just finding a way to make it fun for everybody and keep people coming back.” It doesn’t stop with the TDSB either. In the past, I’ve chatted with phys. ed. head Bill Fifield over at St. Mike’s. He’s in the business of getting his students aware of peak physical fitness right to the bare bones. The grade 11 program is chock full of anatomy tidbits, such as muscu-

lature and skeletal structure. From there, the students become their own personal trainers. “Strength training is a risk, by all means, but there are a lot of safety features you can build into the program,” Fifield told me. “Important ones like don’t lift too much weight — always lift less than you think you can and then work your technique until you are ready to make progressions.” Trainer and Serious About Fitness winner Taya Day says a lot of physical fitness is dependent on what fuel is in the tank. That means no lunches at Mickey D’s kids. “One thing especially I would say about growing up, doing sports and being athletic is people really need to learn how to eat properly,” she says. “A lot of the time if you go to practice, gymnastics or a game and you don’t know proper nutrition, that really affects your performance.” Though Day keeps 40-something women fit, she does field questions from mothers about how their children can remain in tip-top shape. “Usually I just recommend that they get involved in a sport or something athletic rather than going to a gym,” she says. If that doesn’t work, a little Occam’s razor theory doesn’t hurt. “Half the time they’re like, ‘Oh my daughter is putting on all this weight, she’s 16 years old, should I get her to start working out?’ and I ask, ‘What does she eat for lunch?’ ‘A Nutella sandwich’, and I’m like ‘Well, you better start off by fixing that’.” TT

oneil Henry has set the standard for what Toronto FC Academy prospects are expected to achieve. Developed through the Reds system, Henry is the first success story out of a program kicked off in 2008. “The academy boys and coaches definitely made a big impact on my growth and the day-to-day training and constant pushing of the coaches, along with my parents who were the encouraging me to do what I love,” Henry said. The 17-year-old has worked hard both on and off the soccer field as he has been enrolled in Vaughan Road Academy’s Interact program that helps students involved in the arts and athletics obtain their degrees without affecting their vocational pursuits. “The Interact program definitely helps with outside commitments and they are very understanding,” he said. “As long as you communicate well, you put yourself in a good position to succeed.” It’s been an educational two years since joining the junior academy, after youth stints with Brampton Bullets and North Mississauga Panthers. Henry, originally from Brampton, has benefited, making the jump from Toronto FC Academy to the professional team. “You had to do extra stuff to make sure you were fit because when everyone else is fatigued and you have that extra push, it definitely helps out,” he said. Henry has suited up four times for the Reds against Vancouver Whitecaps, C.D. Motagua, Bolton Wanderers and DC United. “Since I got a taste of this season’s action … I just want to get on the field more often,” Henry said. “I’m just going to work hard more often and just work hard during the off-season.” Helping with the young right back’s training is teammate and fellow Canadian Nana Attakora. It’s a relationship that has turned into admiration as Henry admitted he looks up to Attakora, as well as Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos. Next on the agenda is a chance to play against New York Red Bulls Thierry Henry. But for now, it’s focusing on getting his high school diploma and making Toronto FC full-time. He hopes the Reds share his goal and sign him. “If that’s what they have in mind,” he said. “Right now my focus: I just want to finish high school and get that out of the way. “If I need to go to university or college and play soccer, that’s what I’m going to do.” TT

PHOTO COURTESY TORONTO FC

NOVEMBER 2010 TORONTO TODAY 41

Be Easily Satisfied with the Very Best

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o the maps tell the story. And the media are feasting on trying to decode what it all means. Scarborough and Etobicoke took the advice of the Toronto Sun to â&#x20AC;&#x153;vote bums outâ&#x20AC;? and voted in mayor elect Rob Ford. Midtown and downtown did not. This apparent display of voter anger â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at least among the admittedly poorly served citizens of our outer â&#x20AC;&#x2122;burbs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; seems to pose a degree of polarization in defining the city and its future. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dissect this assumption. Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simplistic appeal to voters centered on ending the â&#x20AC;&#x153;gravy trainâ&#x20AC;?, the sense of entitlement of the NDP/Liberal/elitist council who were unresponsive and wasted our money with parties like Kyle Raeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $12,000 bash (I attended and wine cost me $10 a glass). One thing is certain from Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory on this plank: Every paper clip will be accounted for by a new army of bureaucrats, and the media, thirsty for stories of councillors wasting taxpayers money, are in for a long drought. Also, reps will be answering their residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; calls like mad, following the example touted by the incoming mayor. (Apparently so will His New Worship. Good luck to him.) But battle lines may be drawn on key issues between the old city of Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s values of a greener Toronto, well served by public transit (including streetcars), with an attractive recreation-rich waterfront and lots of bike lanes, trails and walking space, and the promise that appealed to the rest of Toronto â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to cut all sorts of taxes and intrusions on our ability to do what we want and the potential for reduction or radical change in these very amenities. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be realistic about this field of conflict. First, radical change in transit plans wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen. Poor candidate Joe Pantalone tried to say this during the campaign and was silenced by Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;people want subwaysâ&#x20AC;? rant. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait for him to try and cancel the huge order for very modern, comfortable, fast European light rail vehicles, which on Sheppard (shovels in the ground) and Eglinton will solve the transit problems of the very underserved voters who brought him to office. It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen. The reality of city government is that Ford doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a lot of power as mayor. He has one vote, and a lot of influence he can use wisely or waste. There are a cadre of smart, activist, slightly left-of-centre councillors who will be the unofficial opposition led by the articulate media favourite Adam Vaughan. They will hold Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feet to the fire on his more wild promises. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have their own motions to preserve and enhance the qualities most residents of the city value against the mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attempts to slash and burn, which will end up being less incendiary than they appeared from the campaign. Will we save some money? Undoubtedly. Bureaucrats are digging for more savings in their departments as we speak. Will taxes be reduced? Not property or commercial. Face up, property taxes are the lowest in the GTA and commercial taxes are not far behind. Will services suffer? Will costs for recreation facilities go up? No, according to Ford. I predict the anger that propelled Ford into office felt by the so-called â&#x20AC;&#x2122;burbs will be dissipated. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be curbed with more TLC from those at the far away city hall who have heard the message, and better transit as the existing plan comes closer to rolling out. How ironic. Will Midtown city values be preserved? Undoubtedly. How ironic. TT Patrick Gossage writes on the important issues facing the city and its neighbourhoods. Gossage was a commentator on CBC Metro Morning during the civic election and is a regular columnist for Tandem.

The last word is

Do you have something to say? Do you have photos from Midtown? Send us your thoughts, letters, photos for consideration. alexisd@mytowncrier.ca

yours

42 TORONTO TODAY NOVEMBER 2010

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