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oRONTO oday January 2012
Toronto’s wildest
BIG IDEAS
And why most of them haven’t worked
FORMER MISS UNIVERSE CANADA gets down to business
IT’S SINK OR SWIM TIME for Toronto’s school pools
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feature article in this issue looks at some big — and sometimes bizarre — ideas for Toronto floated by our city leaders over the last year. I’d like to propose a smaller one that would be relatively cheap to implement but could have implications for the quality of life affecting many of us where we live and work. Or at least between home and work. How about a free book exchange on the transit system? It would work like this: At any subway or other major station, commuters could pick up fiction or non-fiction volumes from a selection at a kiosk — to read during that commute or future rides. When they finish books they could drop them off at the same or other stops. Sort of like a library (remember those?) without readers actually having to go to one. The beauty of such a setup is it would operate on the honour system and it would cost next to nothing to maintain. It would count on the community sense of Toron-
Eric McMillan, editor-in-chief tonians — on their generosity in donating books for others to read and on their honesty in returning books they read themselves. London, England, is already setting up something like this, with the aim of making that city the most literate in the world in time for their hosting of the Olympics. We should give them a run for the title. TT
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ORIGINAL IDEAS: Our civic leaders have had a few — and some may even be viable someday.
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THE ART OF ACTING: Film and TV Hindle discusses the vagaries of his craft.
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POPULAR PERSIAN PLACE: Northern restaurant pleases our critic too.
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LACROSSE STARS: Toronto Rock aims for lucky number seven championship.
Plus lots more... On the cover: Elena Semikina at home with a good friend.
Photo by Francis Crescia/Toronto Today
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News&Opinion
Big Ideas s e c an h c Fat
The great—and not-so great—original proposals to improve Toronto
M By TRISTAN CARTER
uch can be said about the current city council but it cannot be said that our politicians are lacking for ideas. Since the municipal elections began in October, councillors and political hopefuls have been thinking up a storm. At the dawn of a new year Toronto Today takes a look back at some of the more creative ideas to come out of City Hall under the current regime and whether or not they could one day be realized.
Extend Allen Road Underground Idea: During his failed 2010 mayoral bid, Rocco Rossi suggested the idea of extending the Allen Road Expressway underground to link up with the Gardiner Expressway. The proposal would have created 6 km-long tunnel that would serve as a rapid route to the downtown core for the city’s west end. Could it Happen? A similar project, dubbed “The Big Dig” took place in Boston during the last decade when a major highway through the city was converted into a 5.6 km-long tunnel. The project ended up being the most expensive highway project in US history and was completed years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget. Toronto’s former chief city planner, Paul Bedford, said the idea would be cost-prohibitive and thinks people wouldn’t like driving through a tunnel for an extended period. “It’s just stupid, dumb, insane,” he said of the idea. “I can’t be any more blunt.”
TORONTO TODAY JANUARY 2012
Bank of Toronto Idea: Ward 27 councillor Kristyn WongTam wants Toronto to look at getting into the banking business. During her campaign and in council she has suggested that by offering financial products and services to Torontonians, the city could generate extra revenue that could then be invested into city services and infrastructure. “We will be able to upgrade transit and improve our roads,” she told Toronto Today in an October interview. “We will be able to revitalize our waterfront in an expedient manner if
this Bank of Toronto concept gets off the ground.” Could it Happen? Wong-Tam’s idea has faced vocal criticism from fellow councillors stating the cost of creating a financial institution would break the bank. It also faces some legal roadblocks according to Bryan Parker, communications specialist with the federal government’s Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. “A Canadian municipality can most likely not establish its own federally regulated financial institution,” Parker said. Statutes such as the Bank Act prohibit federally regulated financial institutions
from issuing shares to governments and their agents and agencies, said Parker. Municipal governments fall within the definition of agent.
Red Light Island Idea: In March, Ward 7 councillor Georgio Mammoliti put forth the idea of creating a red light district on the Toronto Islands. Mammoliti had previously railed against sexual activities in massage parlours, which he claimed were operated by organized crime in some cases. The move, he said, would increase safety for all and generate revenue for the city via a licensing strategy. Could it Happen? In addition to various legal obstacles, Mammoliti’s proposal would face considerable political resistance. Ward 28 councillor Pam McConnell said the islands are a family destination and the city would not give up parkland on the islands for any type of commercial enterprise. “The Toronto Islands are not going to become the location for a red light district,” she said. “A red light district is an entirely inappropriate use in an area that offers beauty, tranquillity, and a showcase for our natural heritage.”
NFL Team Idea: The Ford brothers’ love of football is well documented, but was never more obvious than in May when Councillor Doug Ford expressed his desire for an National Football League team in Toronto. If the Rogers Centre
is deemed too small a venue, Ford suggested the floor could be lowered to add more seats or a new stadium could be built by the waterfront, connected to the city by a monorail. Could it Happen? According to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy it looks like a Hail Mary. “We do not have current plans for expansion and no NFL team has inquired about relocating.” But former CFL commissioner, politician and current radio host John Tory said that doesn’t mean there won’t be an NFL team here in the future. “It’s possible,” he said. “Do I think it might well happen in the next 10 years? I think it’s sort of a 50 percent chance.” He said another football team in the city would attract tourists and generate tax revenues. Although the CFL has experimented with expanding into the US, the NFL has a much larger domestic market in Los Angeles, which remains without a professional football team. He also said the NFL has expressed hesitance to expand into Canada out of respect for the CFL, which played its 99th Grey Cup this November.
Port Lands Monorail/ Ferris Wheel Idea: In August, Councillor Doug Ford was back with another idea again including a monorail at the waterfront. He outlined a vision for Toronto’s Port Lands, which included a mall, a hotel and a Ferris wheel, all connected to the future Pan-American Games athlete’s village by a monorail that would travel along the shoreline to Ontario Place.
Could it Happen? Although city council voted unanimously to retain Waterfront Toronto as the agency in charge of future plans for
ford said. “A monorail, anywhere in the world, doesn’t carry anywhere near the volumes of people that you would need to carry to service the Port Lands. It’s like a toy train.”
Zip Line Idea: In November, a U.S.based adventure tour company submitted a proposal to install a zip line in Earl Bales Park in North York and use it to operate tree canopy tours. The company, Arbortek Canopy Adventures, has been operating a similar zip line tour for the past year at a resort in Vermont.
the Port Lands, it is possible at least one aspect of Ford’s proposal could appear elsewhere. According to marketing officer at Ontario Place, Lynne Woodley, officials have looked into bringing a Ferris wheel to the park. Don’t expect to hop aboard a monorail in this city anytime soon though. Former chief city planner Paul Bedford, who was called in to discuss the merits of Ford’s plan with members of council, called monorails obtrusive and ineffective. “It was just an idea which I think was not well thought out at all,” Bed-
Could it Happen? Ward 10 councillor James Pasternak seemed supportive of the idea so long as it does not harm the park. “I could see people who enjoy that activity in other cities and in the United States having a great time, and being very supportive of doing it locally,” Pasternak said. “We just have to be sure that it does not hurt the tree canopy or any of our ravine lots.” Officials at Arbortek said that a
minimal amount of trimming and tree removal would need to be done in order to create the corridor for the rider.
Toll Roads Idea: Ward 22’s new councillor Josh Matlow came up with a new idea in September when he proposed tolls be collected on some of Toronto’s major thoroughfares. He said the revenue generated would offset the need for cuts to be made to the budget. Could it Happen? The Municipal Act of 2001 and the City of Toronto Act of 2006 do not grant municipalities the authority to impose road tolls, according to Bob Nichols, spokesman for Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation. Instituting road tolls in Canada’s largest city is still a possibility though, if it asks the province to make a regulation authorizing it to do so. “We recognize the City of Toronto as a mature level of government,” Nichols said. “It is up to the City of Toronto to decide whether tolling or congestion charges are in its best interest.” — with files from Karolyn Coorsh
JANUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY
Lasting legacy Former Miss Universe Canada keeps memory of friend alive in her work
F
By Brian Baker
ormer Miss Universe Canada, Elena Semikina, stands at six-foot-one with long golden locks splaying out across her shoulders like silk threads ready to be woven, but it’s her heart that is full of gold. Born in Russia, living for a time in Moldova, before settling in the Bathurst and Steeles area of North York, she’s candid about the fact she almost never ran for Miss Universe. It was her best friend, Cristina Kartavenkova, who applied for her back in 2007 and when the Miss Universe pageant came calling, Semikina balked. “I thought it was a scam. I didn’t know what it was all about,” she said. “I just ignored it, but when they contacted me they said that I missed the deadline.” But Kartavenkova, who was being treated in Austria for fourth stage aggressive B-cell Non Hodgkins lymphoma, sent an application through Semikina’s email as the two were sharing addresses to keep track of fundraising to help pay for her treatment in Europe. The then 23-year-old Kartavenkova would never see her best friend don the tiara in 2010, representing her new home country. “(Miss Universe) kept my application for a year but unfortunately she was dead. It was three months after she died,” Semikina said. “I then decided to join because at that moment I didn’t realize it was a sign but I guess I did.” The experience let out the inner philanthropist in Semikina. “It was an eye-opener for me because I just realized in my situation I did with some girls, that they didn’t succeed if they didn’t win,” she said. “In my situation it was a statement. “I realized if it didn’t happen it meant there was something else for me.” Her work with Nicaraguan orphans, and further charity organizations led her on her own
path to entrepreneur, as she introduces a skincare line for women called Crisele, name for the first four letters of Kartavenkova’s given name and Semikina’s. Some of the proceeds from the product line will also help support a new foundation called Make Happy, which is geared to help women suffering from cancer. “The cause behind it is to pretty much remind women that beauty comes from within and that skincare line will have inspirational messages,” Semikina said. “It will be that holistic approach and empowering angle.” And it’s all from her strong friend who fought a two-year battle valiantly. “Her story was a very emotional one,” Semikina said. “She pretty much taught me to look at this life with a very optimistic and positive angle, and to never give up. “Throughout her two-year journey, they were supposed to operate on her in Russia, but a doctor in Austria decided to bring her to Austria and give her two years of life,” she added. “The doctors were so shocked because she was so strong and so positive, that they asked her to become a motivational and inspirational speaker.” TT
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TORONTO TODAY JANUARY 2012
School pools Will the city let them sink?
T
By Omar Mosleh
wo of Midtown Toronto’s pools could be going off the deep end. The program funding at Hillcrest Community School and Bedford Park Public School’s pools, along with five others, may be axed as part of the city’s cost-cutting efforts. Former mayor and chair of the Toronto Lands Corporation, a real estate arm of the Toronto District School Board, David Crombie was working on replicating a deal to keep the school board’s pools afloat when the budget axe came swinging down. Crombie was working on establishing a deal for 33 shared-use school board pools the city currently leases from the school board for just over $6 million annually. But those efforts were drowned when the city announced it was proposing to close two outdoor pools, five wading pools, and eliminate programming at 7 of the 33 shared-use school board pools. “We were trying to have the exact same process when the announcement came down,” Crombie said. “It abruptly, unilaterally ruptured the process we’re on.” While the recent announcement certainly brought pools back into the spotlight, it was a comment by Mayor Rob Ford that really made a splash. “I think the province and the school board should be funding those pools, not the City of Toronto,” Ford said at a media scrum regarding the school pools. This, despite the fact as a councillor in Aug. 2010, Ford seconded a motion by Ward 16 councillor Karen Stintz recommending the city enter into discussions with the school board on how to extend the lease. Currently, the city shares the use of pools in school board facilities and has done so since many of those buildings were constructed. Under the current memorandum of understanding, the city leases and pays for the 33 pool’s operating costs. The board pays for capital costs, repairs and maintenance, and has access during the day while the city has access during evenings and weekends. “This was a way-ahead-of-its-time-concept in the city of Toronto, Continued Page 14
Omar MOsleh/Toronto today
FORMER MAYOR David Crombie had hoped to negotiate a financing deal to save school’s pools, he told a recent community meeting.
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Business
Eye for art Barbara Edwards brings high-profile art to humble gallery
A
By Mathieu Yuill
stroll along Bathurst street south of Dupont will lead you past the usual fare for a midtown neighbourhood: a few pubs, a used book store, cafés, a veterinary clinic and the like. But on this particular strip, amongst the variety stores and unisex hair salons, there is an art gallery. Barbara Edwards Contemporary is country miles away from Yorkville or Queen Street West where the bulk of Toronto’s art galleries can be found, but Barbara Edwards’ humble storefront
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@mytowncrier.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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Q
: I found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time the other week. I was in a bar with some friends. There was an altercation at a nearby table involving other patrons and bar staff. People were smashing and throwing glasses and beer bottles. Unfortunately, I was struck in the face by some flying glass shards and I was cut quite badly. My right eye has been damaged although the specialist can’t say yet whether I will have permanent vision loss. I don’t know who threw the glass that hit me. Do I have any recourse? : If you can establish who was responsible for throwing the glass that caused your injury, you would certainly have a claim against that person. However, you may also have a claim against the operators of the bar and the bar staff for their failure to properly control or contain the situation. In fact, they may have even aggravated the problem by their actions. I assume that the police were eventually involved and it would be important to access their records. You may be entitled to recover damages for your pain and suffering, loss of income and your expenses. Depending on the facts, you may also have a claim for punitive or aggravated damages.
A
TORONTO TODAY JANUARY 2012
mathieu yuill/toronto today
WATERCOLOUR UNDER THE BRIDGE: Barbara Edwards, owner of Barbara Edwards Contemporary, has attracted many high-profile artists despite her gallery not being in a trendy art area.
space has had exhibits from high-profile artists like Eric Fischl and Ray Mead. These are the types of artists usually found in more well-established studios, yet Edwards somehow reels them in. Sitting at a table by the window in an artisan bakery, she has wrapped herself in a deep red shawl that seems to glow in contrast to her jet-black hair and muted Irish complexion. Her hands move in concert with her words and she smiles genuinely when speaking about the life of an art dealer. “Because there’s so much money in high-end art, people think art dealers live this glamorous lifestyle,” she says. “But it’s not like that at all. The overhead at the art gallery is a huge risk and in order to keep the artists happy I have to be selling. I have to be committed to selling the artist.” In just a few hours her gallery will be opening its 14th exhibit, Bon à Tirer, featuring six different artists. To say her week has been busy would be an understatement, but Edwards is motivated by putting her nose to the grindstone and is proud it’s just her and a few interns who make everything happen. In her thirties and single, Edwards has found a way to make her personal life and her business act as one. “Between all the manual labour and schlepping around the city, I had to find some way to have balance,” she says. In any given week, Edwards will have showings at her gallery, attend an art fair and handle all the responsibilities of owning her own business. She cut her teeth at Harbourfront’s Power Plant gallery where she completed her thesis on Toronto’s contemporary art scene and its place in an international context. From there, she came into her own at the Sable-Castelli Gallery where she was mentored by famed Canadian art dealer, Jared Sable. “I’ve been in the business for 33 years and I only ever had three assistants,” Sable says. “And she was the last of them but she was the best. She had incredible enthusiasm for art, she totally believes in
what’s she doing and she’s authentic.” While working at the gallery, Sable says he was very impressed by her historical knowledge of art and by her incredibly good eye. “You’re born with a good eye, but it can be honed,” Sable says. “I got her from the Power Plant where she was in a clerical position and I put her in a position of strength.” He says it was then she began to grow and excel in the business. Edwards opened her own gallery shortly after she left Sable-Castelli in 2005. “Almost weekly I feel I have an insurmountable problem,” she says. “But just by dealing with those problems head on I realize they aren’t so insurmountable and I’m able to overcome them.” Just after she opened, a neighbouring building caught fire and did damage to both sides of Bathurst Street forcing the street and many of its shops closed for three weeks. Edwards says she had to come up with a way to get her clients back so she called up David Silcox, president of Sotheby’s and asked if he would come lecture at her gallery. “There was no commerce involved and it’s not edited,” she says. “He didn’t do it for any sort of gain he just did it for the love of art.” This was the seed for Edwards’ BEC lecture series, which features figures in the art community sharing insight on different artists. Edwards says it’s been a boon for helping her gallery establish itself in Toronto. Sable doesn’t think it matters where Edwards opened her gallery. He says the type of buyers she’ll attract — the real collectors compared to the “debutants who just want something to put over the fireplace,” — would come to her because she’s already established herself and has clout in the industry. “You have to learn to look for quality and commitment, those principles apply today,” Sable said. “It’s not good enough to just be good, you have to be very good and (Edwards is that). “But let’s hope she never stops learning.” TT
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By Mathieu Yuill
anadians love compact cars. In fact, about half the new cars bought by us Northerners in 2011 have been of the compact variety, so it makes sense that Mazda, instead of introducing a bigger, badder SUV this year, brought the already-overseas successful Mazda2. It would be easy to suggest the 2 is just a tinier, lighter version of the Mazda3, but this B-class (aka subcompact) is a different car altogether while retaining Mazda’s underpinnings. The Mazda2 does one thing really well: it delivers a form of transportation for a really low price. It accomplishes this by offering a base model light on amenities with only two options (automatic and air conditioning) and two upgraded trim models that add cosmetic improvements and some convenience features. But even the base model includes power locks, windows and door mirrors. The 1.5-litre engine puts out 100 horsepower and 98 ft-lbs of torque. On paper, this isn’t very exciting and behind the wheel it delivers pretty much the same level of exhilaration, but with a driver and passenger there was never the feeling a steep hill would bring the 2 to a halt. This is partially thanks to the fact the 2 is quite light. While built on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, the 2 is stripped down in comparison from an equipment perspective. It would be even lighter if not for Canada’s strict safety standards; overseas the 2 is even lighter. But the lightness advantage came to an end when the 3 was loaded up with a couple of kids and gear for an outing. The additional 400 lbs. (approximately) was significantly reflected in the 2’s performance. The engine often whirred loudly in complaint and fuel economy crept up about 1.5 litres per 100 kms from the 6.2 litres/km that had been enjoyed. The bottom line is the Mazda2 makes for an excellent single person car, second car or a get-around-town vehicle. If you’re buying a car just for one of these uses, you’d be hard pressed to make an argument for one of its direct competitors over the 2. TT
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Arts&Entertainment
Locally driven Actor Art Hindle talks television and film
A
By Brian Baker
rt Hindle spent his afternoon blazing a trail for winter’s arrival, much like he did as Billy Duke for hockey in the film Face-Off. Hindle lives in King City these days, with wife Brooke, on a horse farm. Though he loves where he is now “communing with nature”, he’ll admit his heart is still in the Beaches. The actor of Canadian television shows E.N.G. and Paradise Falls, and of silver screen portrayals in Porky’s, Black Christmas and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, has been traveling back to the city to celebrate an anniversary. His first film Face-Off, the love story of hockey player Billy Duke and folksinger Sherry Nelson, was released 40 years ago. On the film’s anniversary, Nov. 3, Hindle, along with family attended a screening of the film at the Hockey Hall of Fame, as the sports movie has skated its way onto Blu-ray. Although he donned a blue Toronto Maple Leafs jersey in the film, skated with plenty of NHL legends like Bobby Orr, Jean Beliveau, Darryl Sittler and Derek Sanderson, Hindle admitted he was a little green in his premiere. “When I watched it, it was painful for me to watch because I was a young actor and I could see a lot of warts and moles in my performance,” he says. “But now, 40 years later I can look back on it and I think I did a pretty good job.” Still, the fact so many stars of hockey’s past had appearances in the flick is awe-inspiring to Hindle. “You couldn’t do that film today because the NHL probably wouldn’t allow it and they only just barely allowed this Blu-ray to be issued,” he says. “Of course with the players association, for this calibre of players we had in this film, it would be prohibitively expensive to do this film.” Hindle’s candid, admitting he always wanted to be a sports reporter, though the irony of him not playing hockey as a kid is not lost on him. He grew up on Courcelette Road in the
10 TORONTO TODAY JANUARY 2012
francis crescia/toronto today
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Canadian actor Art Hindle, star of the hockey film Face-Off, says he’d like to see an increase in Canadian programming, as was the case with shows like Road to Avonlea.
Beach and Eastwood Road in the Upper Beach. That life on shore led him to Ashbridge’s Bay, where father Ben Hindle was once commodore of the Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club. “My summers were spent not really playing baseball, but he would put me in a sailboat or rowboat, put a little life jacket on me and launch me into Ashbridge’s Bay,” Hindle says. “He wanted me to become an Olympic sailor, I think.” Though he sailed into different waters as an actor, an adventure that eventually led him to Los Angeles, Hindle developed another passion: the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists. During the 2011 federal election ACTRA was involved in keeping arts and culture in voters’ minds as they went to the polls. More than half a year later, Hindle says the message is still loud and strong. “You can’t sort of mark time, or stand still,” he said. “You’ve got to keep these issues in front of the politicians because if you don’t they’ll just move on to whoever else is making the noise.” When it comes to Toronto, where Hindle is active as an ACTRA councillor and as Vice President of External Affairs, the television and movie industry has nothing to fear in Mayor Rob Ford.
“As far as TV and film, he’s a businessman, he realizes that it brings big bucks to Toronto,” he said. “And so I don’t think he’ll touch that. “As it is, it’s a $60 billion industry in the gross national product.” It was here in Hogtown where Hindle spent five of the best years of his career on the show E.N.G. “It was an ensemble cast with 12 or 13 actors with a lot of wonderful guest stars and we just basically had a lot of fun doing it,” he says. “Literally, every day we were laughing on the set. Very rarely did we ever have a sour moment.” That Canadian content on television sets countrywide is lost. Shows like Street Legal, Road to Avonlea, Jake and the Kid along with Neon Rider aren’t as commonplace as they once were, Hindle says. “I hope and wish there would be more Canadian content on prime time private networks that rent our airwaves,” he admits. “I’d like to see them have a couple hours more Canadian content.” Even more so, with economic uncertainty flipping through minds like a finished film reel. “You do need arts and culture,” he said. “When times are tough, that’s what keeps the people happy.” TT
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416-656-2706 IS IT MANLY IN HERE, OR IS IT JUST THE PAINT? CIL Paints decided to change the names of some of its paints in order to attract more men to their product. The names of the colours, like Zombie Apocalypse (formerly Juliette’s Potion), were chosen via a Facebook contest.
Painting like a man By Mary Fran McQuade
S
o would you paint a room Dirty Socks? How about Zombie Apocalypse? If you’re a guy, CIL Paints is apparently betting that you would. Last fall, CIL decided to man up and change some of its paint names so they would be more appealing to the Y-gene crowd. A Facebook contest was held to draw out public creativity. Thousands of names poured in. Some aren’t suitable for a family newspaper, but examples include Mo Mony (formerly Fairy Tale Green), Rust on My Truck (formerly Classic Liberty Red, a dark rustyred) and Midlife Crisis (formerly Silver Lace Vine, a grey-white with a hint of green). And, oh yeah, Dirty Socks booted out Acadia Gem (pale grey-
beige), while Zombie Apocalypse tossed off Juliet’s Potion (acid yellow-green). Painting the man cave Given the often fanciful paint names that spatter the industry, the down-to-earth, funny, guy-type names are refreshing (unlike those Dirty Socks). That was part of the whole idea behind the switch. Set the company apart from the rest of the wusses and go for the belly laugh, rather than the dreamy heart. Younger guys seem to be taking more of an interest in decorating choices, so now they won’t have to discuss simpy colours like Plum Escape and Butterscotch Tempest any more. In truth, many of the names selected for use were entered by women. Though Face-
book voters determined the contest winners, not all those winning names will make it into stores. CIL marketing execs had the final say on which names to use, choosing from all those suggested in the contest. The new chips are appearing in a special brochure on “Ultimate Man Caves” available in Home Depot stores. Colour-coordinated paint schemes are shown for male hangouts like band practice rooms, workshops and bathrooms. You can see the brochure and find out lots more about painting techniques and colour choices at www.cil.ca. Colours of the Year 2012 About this time of year, various paint and décor companies trumpet their pronouncements for colour of Continued Page 12
We are pleased to announce that the winner of Cabico’s Design of the Month Contest for December 2011 is:
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inger ale and ginger beer might be nonalcoholic today, but it began in the 19th century as a sprinkling of ground ginger root in the real thing. It was thought to help “settle” the stomach. In fact, it does. The Chinese have used ginger root for this purpose for centuries and it appears in the writing of Confucius. It can also be found in the Koran, as a spiritual and a heavenly herb. And you can actually buy a ginger anti-nauseant made by Gravol. From the 9th century, it was used widely in Europe as a spice and in the Middle Ages, it was thought to prevent the plague. Believe it or not, in England, it was actually applied to the backside of a lazy horse to ‘gee it up”. Ginger is taken from the root of the ginger plant and its strength and flavour dissipate rapidly with age. You can buy the dry powder but fresh ginger is best. Buy a large root, cut it into one inch segments and freeze them in a bag for occasions when you haven’t any fresh on hand. When needed, remove a piece and scrape off the skin (you can scrape it easily with a spoon). You can also scrape and preserve ginger the Australian way — in jar of sherry. Good supermarkets make sure the ginger is as fresh as the other produce, but many don’t. Asian supermarkets have the best fresh ginger, perhaps because it sells faster and doesn’t have time to dry out. Avoid wrinkled, dry ginger. Look for fat, tender knobs with a thin, almost translucent skin. A knob
the year. For 2012, I’ve turned to three top sources for their picks. • Pantone, a long-time leader in colour standards for industry, has chosen Tangerine Tango as its banner colour for 2012. The company describes it as “dramatic and seductive,” and “a highvisibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.” (Less gushy folk might think of it as hunter orange.) You’re not likely going to paint a room—or even a whole wall—this shade, but it’s a good pop of colour on cushions and accessories. Fashion designers have already produced some sketches for spring incorporating the colour. Tommy Hilfiger combines it with dense beige and dashes of navy, and Adrienne Vittadini pairs it with saturated purple in a casual, flowing gown. Pantone also boasts that cosmetics company Sephora will be bringing out a limited-edition collection featuring Tangerine Tango. The collection—including eye shadow, lipstick, lip gloss, nail
should break with a snap and have a lovely tangy fragrance. Here are some interesting ways to incorporate ginger into your menus. Ginger Tea My Chinese friend, Jeanne, taught me to make ginger tea. It’s a wonderful soothing drink. Bring two cups of water to a boil in a covered saucepan, and add a one-inch piece of peeled ginger, finely sliced. Simmer for 15 minutes, strain and drink. Add honey to sweeten if you like. Gingered Sweet Potatoes These taste so good, you’ll never go back to the bland version again. When your sweet potatoes are ready to mash, add your butter plus 2 teaspoons honey and 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger for each pound of potatoes. Mash and blend really well. You can garnish with some candied ginger, but be careful — this can make the flavour very strong. Ginger Stir Fries Chop a one or two-inch piece of ginger finely and add to hot oil along with sliced onion and garlic when making stir fry. It will add real zing to chicken, beef or even a plain vegetable stir fry. TT polish and accessories—is expected to debut in March. • CIL, true to its Canadian roots, takes a more conservative approach in its annual colour choice. Tea Dance, a dusty pinky-red, is its pick for 2012. It’s a versatile, toned-down shade that’s soothing or stimulating, depending on its colour partners. Lovely in a dining room with white wainscoting, Tea Dance would also work as an accent in a feminine powder room, bedroom or garden room. • Benjamin Moore, another leading paint company, skips to another end of the spectrum for its 2012 choice. Wythe Blue, a delicate, pale blue with a touch of green, recalls historical interiors. Calling it “one of Mother Nature’s neutrals,” the company suggests combining it with creams and greys for a classic look. Alternatively, pair it with earthy greens for a warm, natural feel. So make winter fly by: Pull out some paint chips and plan your spring colours now. TT
Dining
Authentic dining at Persian resto Liz Campbell
I
think I know why there are such long lineups at the door at North Restaurant. It took the waiter at least 20 minutes to bring the bill. And it was at least 20 minutes before that before he offered us dessert. On the other hand, the hot meal came fairly swiftly. And after all, that’s the most important part. Just to confuse you, this spot has two names. It’s also called Shomal, which means North in Farsi. So my guests and I are prepared for an authentic Persian dining experience and, according to our waiter, it’s specifically the food of the North of Iran—hence the name. It starts with an incomprehensible menu, but thankfully, each dish is carefully explained in English. It rapidly becomes apparent that two ingredients predominate in this cuisine: pomegranate and walnuts. So it’s healthy! While we study the menu, the waiter places on the table a plate of parsley, radishes and a peeled onion, cut in half, along with a basket of pita bread wedges. This is a first for me and strikes me as an odd way to start a meal—sending one’s palate into overdrive before you even start. However, this is traditional. We begin with two appetizers.
liz campbell/vaughan today
WHERE’S THE BEEF? Our reviewer finds there is plenty of meat in the authentic Persian dishes at North Restaurant on Steeles Avenue West. So much so, in fact, it is not an easy place for a vegetarian to find a meal.
Badenjan Kebab ($9.99) proves to be two small eggplants stuffed with a blend of ground pomegranates, walnuts and onion. This is a small piece of heaven. It’s so good that my guests and I literally say, “Mmmmm,� almost in unison. The second appetizer, Kashke Badenjan ($8.99), is more eggplant, this time mashed and topped with fried mint, crispy fried onion and garlic, and whey. It comes with pita bread pieces. This too proves a hit— the varying textures and flavours blend beautifully. Indeed, there’s a lot
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of it and one guest keeps eating this long after her main course arrives: “It’s so good!� We select three different meats for our mains: lamb, chicken and veal. From the stew menu, one guest chooses Baghali Polo el Mahicheh, described as a traditional stew of lamb shank and beans served with herbed rice ($13.99). The broth is too mild and doesn’t offer much punch, but the lamb is tender and tasty. There are no beans. The rice has a mild herbiness we couldn’t identify—apparently it’s composed of dried dill and coriander. Also from the stew menu, my second guest selects Fesenjan, chicken breast in a rich sauce of walnuts and pomegranate, served with rice ($14.99). Little effort has been expended on presentation—one large chicken breast sits unadorned in a bowl of dark sauce. A plate of plain rice accompanies this. Even a sprig of parsley would not go amiss. My guest isn’t enthusiastic about the sauce which is a little overpoweringly sweet. I select from the Beef menu, which consists mainly of kebabs (chicken and lamb in this category as well). Following the waiter’s recommendation, I choose Kebab Torsh, char-broiled veal with—you guessed it!—pomegranate, walnuts and onion ($18.99). It comes with a plate of plain basmati rice and a lone grilled tomato which has the merit of adding some colour to the plate. The meat is tender and flavourful but the rice could use a little help.
liz campbell/vaughan today
The menu may seem confusing, but fortunately the wait staff are helpful in explaining what everything is.
For dessert, the waiter brings us a sample selection from which to choose. We opt for the plate of bamia and zulbia ($3.99). Both are really sugary but delicious, the bamia with a distinct rosewater essence. The second dessert we choose is unnamed by the waiter: “It’s just a cake,� he tells us. It’s an apt description, a plain pinwheel of cake and cream, though on the bill it has a grand name: Napoleon ($4.50). Don’t let the menu befuddle you with names, the wait staff is very helpful. But this cuisine apparently isn’t veggie conscious. To North Americans, stew indicates some sort of vegetable content so it can be misleading. There are vegetarian dishes on the menu but note that these often contain both eggs and “salty fish.� Perhaps the onion and radish are intended to serve as the vegetables? North Restaurant, 100 Steeles Ave. W. 416-881-7704. Reservations are strongly recommended. TT JANUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 13
School pools
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WALK-INS WELCOME. NO APPOINTMENTS
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4 1 6
U
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4 1 4 0
14 TORONTO TODAY JANUARY 2012
where they used existing assets like a school to put in community facilities,” Crombie said. “It saved the city from having to build other buildings.” Previously, this made sense, because both the city and school board had equal power in levying property taxes to cover costs. But the Mike Harris provincial government restricted the school board from levying taxes, which is why an agreement had to be created to figure out who will pay for what. The mayor may not feel it’s the city’s role to fund school board pools, but pool advocate Karen Pitre, chair of the Toronto Sports Council, says that argument doesn’t hold water. “People need to come to the conclusion that swimming is an essential skill that needs to be provided,” she said. “We need people to accept the fact that (learning to) swim is an essential service.” Budget Chief Mike Del Grande obliquely avoided supporting a higher level of government providing funding for Toronto’s school pools, but he did point out two problems if it was proposed.
Special treatment for Toronto?
For one, there’s the historical connection of shared-use pools. But there’s also the perception of Toronto offering perks not given by other municipalities. “The City of Toronto (public) school board is the only school board in the province that has pools in their schools,” Del Grande said. “So when you look at it from the provincial level, provincial members of parliament outside of Toronto view it with disdain that Toronto wants this special kind of funding that nobody has.” He pointed out the city’s debt increases annually and for the first time in a decade, the budget will spend less than the previous year. He also said the city doesn’t have a “bottomless pit” of money to throw at programs and must reduce spending to ensure the sustainability of the budget for future years. “We have all kinds of these niches, free this and free that, throughout the city and those things need to be looked at because we’re not in a position to be able to do that anymore,” he said. The city is expected to save about $1.1 million by closing the two outdoor pools, five wading pools and programming at seven school board pools as well as associated staff positions. Crombie says that money is merely a drop in the bucket compared to the ramifications it could have on Toronto families. “These are not, in the way of the budget, enormous amounts of money,” he said. “But they are of enormous importance to individual families and people.” Ursula Boylan is a testament to that. The mother of two children at Hillcrest Community School said she was “flabbergasted” when she heard swimming programming at Hillcrest could end on evenings and weekends. “It’s a vital (service) ... Before you make decisions, you have to consult with the communities affected,” she said. Guy Smagghe, an East York parent, can relate to Boylan’s concerns. He’s worried about city
Continued from Page 7
programming at Earl Beatty Community Centre coming to a close. While he says the pool at Earl Beatty is not under threat, their community centre is one of 12 where the city plans on eliminating arts, fitness and other recreational programming. “I do feel betrayed, totally,” said Smagghe, in reference to the Ford administration. “You’re coming in and destroying the basis of our community ... These community programs are not gravy.” Del Grande recognizes swimming pools and community centres are something close to many resident’s hearts. And he accepts that. “When I look at (the budget) it’s not just strictly dollars and cents for me, because I know there’s people behind the dollars and cents,” he said. “But I also know that if I don’t do what I need to do to help fix our situation, it will be much worse later on.” Del Grande says the city originally suggested eliminating 35 wading pools rather than five. He rejected that proposal, and staff came back with five pools that were in the worst shape and needed capital repairs. One issue with wading pools is since they’re aimed toward children, city staff must be on hand for safety. Del Grande has suggested city staff look into some kind of sprinkler activity to replace the wading pools. “It doesn’t require personnel, but would still accomplish the goal of water recreation,” he said. The seven school board pools, including Hillcrest’s and Bedfork Park’s, were selected based on low annual visits, high relative cost per visit, the proximity of other nearby indoor pools and the ward’s demographics. Bedfork Park parent Megan Segsworth was shocked to hear her school’s pool was underused. “You wake up in the morning on registration day, and within five minutes every class is sold out,” she said. “You can’t get into programs, so the idea that we’re underutilized is just ridiculous.” Del Grande said for what the city is paying, they’re not getting their money’s worth. “When we look at cost per swim, and we’re paying $15 or $20 per swim, it makes no sense to us,” he said. “There are private places where you can get more value for the money.”
Community engagement is key
Crombie believes closures are not necessarily the issue. He says the previous initiative, which closed eight pools but made better use of the remaining 31, was a success because the community deemed the closures viable. “One of the great advantages of the way we did it before, it was totally public, it was totally engaging communities, it was totally transparent,” he said. “None of that has occurred so far.” For Pitre, the most important thing is the pools continue to get funded and be used as community assets. And she says the city, school board and province all hold a responsibility. “We’re going to work to say that every kid should swim, and we all have a responsibility to make that happen,” she said. “We’re saying you all have a role to play, and we’re going to hold you to it.” TT
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Sports
Brian Baker
Off to the gulag with students “
PHOTO COURTESy TORONTO ROCK
GATHERING NO MOSS: Rock offensive weapon Garrett Billings has set his sights on winning another Champion’s Cup. The Rock start their 2012 season this January.
Like a Rock NLL squad wants lucky number seven Champion’s Cup
K
By Brian Baker
eep the winning tradition alive. That’s what Toronto Rock forward Garrett Billings and recently acquired goalie Matt Roik said when asked about what their role in the community is. “I think the Rock has such a strong following in Toronto and obviously a great history winning championships here,” Billings said. “We’re like the New York Yankees of lacrosse for Canada.” Indeed, the defending 2011 Champion’s Cup holders are looking to go back-to-back. Last season, the Rock beat Roik’s former squad, the Washington Stealth in the final 8-7. It was a rematch of the year before where the Stealth won 15-11. Roik, originally hailing from Dunnville, now calls Toronto his home and after spending three seasons in the Western Division, he’s happy to be back. “For me it’s a refreshing start,” he said. “I’ve been on the West Coast for quite a few years. “I really look forward to going back and play Washington,” he added. “I’m going to circle that on the calendar.” With the regular season starting Jan. 8 against Calgary, there’s bound to be some newbies in the Air Canada Centre. Billings dissuades those who are shocked by the
everything-hockey-disallows being allowed in lacrosse. “Everyone comes and they see the slashing and hacking, but it really doesn’t hurt, they’re just trying to get the ball,” he said. “Just focus on the skilled play out there, don’t focus too much on the fighting.” Parallels can be drawn between lacrosse and hockey, Canada’s two national sports. With former NHLers Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts, Adam Oates along with current players Jonathan Toews and Steven Stamkos having their roots in lacrosse, there’s plenty of respect between the sports. “I think a lot of people take pride in that because of the physicality and because of the skill level involved with it,” Roik said. “It goes hand-in-hand in upgrading your skill level in the game of hockey. “It’s a lot like basketball too with the aspect of pick and roll, go forth and with the shot clock.” It will be an intense season with 16 games scheduled, but Billings doesn’t seem to mind. “Offensively we’re pretty unselfish,” he said. “If you try to take the game too much into your own hands, it kind of takes away from the team. “I’ll do the exact same thing as last year, play hard and be unselfish and have a good year with the rest of the guys.” TT
D
o you ever do bad stories?” It was an interesting question posed to me by a phys. ed. teacher from North York. In a previous conversation, I mentioned I focus on “just the facts” in my sports reporting and keep things positive because it’s high school sports. To avoid ambiguity, the teacher threw Earl Beatty Junior and Senior Public School into the conversation. The East York facility has banned all balls from its schoolyards and has been the subject of punchlines from our sports-loving American neighbours, in particular Saturday Night Live. I chuckled to myself. Synchronicity. Of course, when I hear about kids’ right to play getting deflated, I’m the first one to play hardball with their Stalinesque oppressors. The North York teacher and I spoke about the protective bubbles that parents put their children in. He shared a story about a kid scuffing their knee in a soccer game and the parent reacting to it like Mt. Vesuvius had just smothered Pompeii in pyroclastic devastation. My wife, who works in retail, tells me about weekly recalls of toys or products made for kids. No one has died or been physically harmed, but apparently there is still a risk. It seems the sweat pouring from corporate executives and lawyers is made from a bouillabaisse of anxiety, overactive imaginations and paranoia. Knee-jerk responses are the consequence. And it’s not because the corporations are afraid a child will be hurt, but because they might face litigation. It comes as no surprise that a school in East York is driven to the Continued Page 18 JANUARY 2012 TORONTO TODAY 17
Cont. from Page 17
brink of bad craziness over a mother getting bonked in the cranial region by a soccer ball. I don’t downplay her injuries — a reported concussion — but may I highlight the fact it was a soccer ball. Not a hardball, or golf ball, or the uncaring plastic sphere meant for lacrosse. It was a soccer ball: meant for heading. Still, in the former borough I lovingly call EYSSR for its political leanings, it seems the safety of one parent who knowingly entered the realm of children with arms, is more important than an entire school’s physical fitness. Ironic, since the Toronto District School Board and the province are trying their darnedest to get kids fit through programs like Fit For Life and getting rid of pop in hallways. Limited gym time, and funding for sports doesn’t offer the kids the prescribed 60 minutes of activity per day. And, it appears sports in Canada are looked down on in a manner akin to academia’s view of those in the construction industry. Schools look like gulags as it is: large brick buildings where we’re all sent to rid us of our character. Take away a kid’s pigskin, right to play catch or kick the patchwork of black pentagons and white hexagons around and you render their recreation ball-less. I’m sure the school’s namesake, Admiral of the Fleet David Beatty wouldn’t want his sailors getting all soft after a shelling by the hands of complete amateurs. Which calls to mind Toronto Star columnist Cathal Kelly’s piece on Earl Beatty. Besides his lengthy lede recapping the sporting activities of the Mongol empire, he posed the question, what sport doesn’t require a ball? Boxing. Astute, but passive and passé. How about mixed martial arts? It would have been sensational to say kids could start pulling off armbars and guillotines like Georges St. Pierre until Doug Ford brought up a UFC-backed anti-bullying program in schools. Start teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in gym class and we start producing some high-quality Octagon fighters. Though I jest, I truly believe scars developed from sport add character. Unless parents keep their kids in cages, their offspring is going to get hurt. Prevention is ideal, but when it becomes an impetus then you have to ask why common sense has gone on the injured reserve list. I participated in the sport of redass in the schoolyard back in the ’80s and ’90s. Explain the gameplay of that aforementioned recreation and the “Modern Family” crowd will drop dead. Basically you bounced a tennis ball against a wall, if missed, you would get a letter. Spell RE-D-A-S-S and you would have your opponents whip the yellow fuzz at your posterior. Now, what does happen to children when they are victims of paranoid, over-protective parents and ball-fearing bureaucrats? I can’t say. But I have a sneaking suspicion we saw some of them at Occupy Toronto. TT
“Start teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in gym.”
18 TORONTO TODAY JANUARY 2012
2012’s clean slate for council 1 1
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1. M*A*S*H’s O’Reilly 6. Streetcars 11. 36D partners 14. Theatre show 15. Aired again 16. Archery piece 17. First part of clue 19. Before now 20. Pirate sound 21. Host 22. One with fame 23. Votes against 25. Second part of clue 28. Bush’s press secretary Fleischer 30. “So cute!” 31. Saying 34. Rough 37. College coach Parseghian 40. Third part of clue 43. “A mouse!” 44. Street level criminals 45. ___ Plains 46. Dubai’s home 47. Olive ___ 48. Last part of clue 54. One of 50, en Francais 58. Like facts or rocks 59. Stereotypically dreaded relative 61. Dir. 62. Actor Roth
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DOWN 1. Mr. Bean portrayer Atkinson 2. Prolific female writer Behn 3. Term of endearment 4. Oft-heisted item 5. Like rat or human 6. Peace agreement 7. Actress Zellweger 8. Curved 9. ___ Tai 10. Where many comedic actors get their start 11. Reduce 12. Hulk ___ 13. Knight’s weapon 18. Multilingual news channel 22. You do this before you reap it 24. Epic 26. Completely satisfy
27. One score 29. Music style originating in Jamaica 31. Juicy suffix 32. Depart, as from life 33. Question 34. ___-Hur 35. Enlist, abbr. 36. 11A partners 37. “___ was saying…” 38. Fix, as a bet 39. Ward 18 councillor Bailao 41. Wear backward 42. Story 46. And, in Munich 47. Exam type 48. Not the ones over there 49. Acceptable in accordance with Islamic law 50. Being ___ 51. Show caution 52. Come next 53. Burn healers 55. Test 56. Make amends 57. Out houses? 60. Wimp 63. ___ Gardner 64. Went for a jog 65. Definite article
Check www.MyTorontoToday.ca for the answers.
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416 487 4311
3080 YONGE ST. AT LAWRENCE
ROYAL LEPAGE REAL ESTATE SERVICES LTD., BROKERAGE
www.RLPonYONGE.com
CORPORATE OFFICE
I
t is with great pride and pleasure that I recognize the award winning Realtors of Royal LePage on Yonge. These individuals exemplify today’s standard of practice. They are committed, professional and invested in our community. They represent a wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge of Toronto’s most established neighbourhoods.
Trish Manning Broker Manager
Diamond Award
Franco DeLuca* National Chairman’s Club Top 1% in Canada
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Sam Amid*
Vera Gyenes* Ontario Top 10 Individual
Bosko Scepanovic**
Belinda Lelli*
Lorraine Smith*
President's Gold
Patrice Gale*
Ellie Burns*
Elizabeth Taylor* Ellen Hanbidge*
Ronald Sabourin** Evan Schwartz* Jocelyn Fullerton* Mihaela Nitescu*
Master Sales
Lorraine Bertol*
Cia Moazzam* Manuela Palermo* Susan Thomas*
Sales Achievement
Ellie Amasya*
Shirley-Ann Silvertown*
Elmar Moser**
Stephen McShane*
Broker Manger Trish Manning could not be more pleased than to have extended an invitation to three exceptional candidates to join the team at Royal LePage on Yonge. She, along with our realtors and staff offer to them a warm welcome.
Julia Lorenzetti*
Julia Lorenzetti was born and raised in Toronto. She comes to us with a degree in economics and art and design. A 20 year background in construction and development means her knowledge of new home and condominium construction is a great asset when buying directly from builders.”
Alex Hodgson*
Alex Hodgson grew up in north Toronto and is now raising her three daughters right here in the neighbourhood. Alex’s background in advertising sales and marketing education will allow her to bring a unique and valuable perspective to her practice. * Sales Representative **Broker
20 TORONTO TODAY JANUARY 2012