North Toronto Post August 2020

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MIDSUMMER CAKES: MARK MCEWAN BITES INTO T.O.’S BEST PINK BLOSSOM, PISTACHIO & COCONUT NECTAR CREATIONS

25 good things to come out of a very tough year

From an outpouring of solidarity against systemic racism to rallying around main street and even the rebirth of the drive-in, we report on the many ways our city has come together

AUGUST 2020 · VOLUME 26 · ISSUE 13

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Kathy is an attentive, honest and hardworking realtor and philanthropist. Several of our members have used her services to both buy and sell their homes with enormous satisfaction. With her customary unassuming manner, Kathy has supported the Leaside Garden Society for the past many years. Her generosity has allowed us to offer a substantial scholarship to students studying ecology, horticultural and landscape design. A longtime resident, Kathy has always been an active organizer of local charitable events, while also contributing to many other worthy causes for the City. Kathy continues to share her success by giving to others. We are fortunate, indeed, to have her both as a friend and a supporter of the Society. — Nora Campbell President - Leaside Garden Society

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A HIGH SCHOOL PROPOSAL Breakfast Toronto’s Stephanie Henry on meeting the love of her life

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MIDSUMMER CAKE GUIDE Chef Mark McEwan bites into seven of August’s most delicious offerings

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LAKESIDE LUXURY The market for cottages is on fire — here are four with unlimited luxury

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AUGUST 2020

25 GOOD THINGS IN 2020 From solidarity against systemic racism to the rebirth of the drive-in

PARASOLS AND WIDE-BRIM HATS The most stylish and unique ways to protect from summer’s rays

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NEWS

CITYSCAPE

THE GOOD

More than anything, Midtown Toronto is a great reflection of who we are. We specialize in selling luxurious and eclectic homes in Midtown Toronto. Come meet the neighbourhood.

www.lovemidtown.ca Erika 416-452-4967 erikapiller@chestnutpark.com Mark 416-568-8577 markjobling@chestnutpark.com

The pandas were born on July 14

The Toronto Zoo just celebrated its first red panda birth since 1996. Twoyear-old red panda Illa gave birth to two baby red pandas on July 14. The pregnancy proved a success after several breeding attempts between the zoo’s male and female red pandas. The Toronto Zoo announced the birth last month, and although the red pandas were closely monitored via a remote live stream, one of the babies did not survive. But as Toronto mourns the loss, zoo staff continue to work hard to ensure the remaining cub stays healthy as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Red Panda Species Survival Plan, created to ensure the survival of the species. Red pandas are an endangered species, included on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Outside of captivity, red pandas are usually found in parts of China and the Himalayas. Less than ten thousand red pandas are thought to survive in the wild and so the remaining cub continues to represent a positive and hopeful step toward the recovery of the species.

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The 45th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is still slated to run Sept. 10 to 19, and now it has an opening night film. The festival announced that the Spike Lee–directed film version of David Byrne’s American Utopia concert will kick off the festivities on Sept. 10. The film documents former Talking Heads lead singer David Byrne’s Broadway show, where he performs onstage and shares the spotlight with 11 musicians from around the world, including Toronto’s own Jacquelene Acevedo. Earlier this summer, TIFF announced the 10-day event would have a lineup that would include both physical and digital screenings of 50 new feature films, five programs of shorts and an online industry conference as well as interactive talks, film cast reunions and Q & As with cast and filmmakers.

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Teenager Jayden Daniels, 19, wanted to know more about the neighbourhoods he walked through during quarantine, but researching areas is difficult when there’s no access to libraries and archives. So he took to the Internet to explore old buildings and flip through images of years past. Daniels was so intrigued by his research that he created a free app to share his newfound knowledge with Toronto residents. The app is called Toronto Neighbourhood Walks and is entirely researched, photographed, and narrated by Daniels. “I try to read everything on the internet about the neighbourhood, and then I narrow down the information based on what I think will be the most interesting, but also what makes sense in terms of the walking tour’s route,” Daniels says. He has now put up posters and took to neighbourhood Facebook groups to get the word out about the app so everyone can enjoy it.


CITYSCAPE

THE POST INTERVIEW

Raptors set to defend NBA title from Florida

NEWS

BY THE NUMBERS

Broadcaster Paul Jones on the return of the NBA on Aug. 1, junkyard dogs and why he believes the Raps will square off in the NBA finals against Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers by Ron Johnson Are you down in Florida now to call the games?

Is there a sleeper team in the Eastern Conference?

No, no, gosh, I’m not going anywhere near that place. We will be calling all our games from studios in Toronto, which is fine by me, the way Florida has made itself into the new epicentre, the new hot spot [for COVID-19]. I’m fine to be staying away from there.

Well, you’re always leery about Miami, how hard they play and how Eric Spoelstra is a great coach. And then I would say Boston would be the other team. Going to the Western now, do you think Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers have what it takes to get past the Lakers?

Yeah, I think they have the biggest ceiling. To me, it’s about the chemistry with them, and they haven’t had a lot of time to try and put it together. You know, this is the time when you should be really kind of nailing it down, and they’re going to have to try and start all over again. But the good thing for them is they’ve got a coach who has done it before and they’ve got some players like Kawhi who have done it before, and they’ve got good veterans around him. What teams are in the finals?

Marc Gasol came back from the break in great shape. Has his physique and his conditioning coming back been the biggest surprise?

I think so. And this is what I say: Last year, he had one of the greatest summers a basketball player could have right with the NBA championship in June, and then he goes and plays for his national team and wins a World Championship in October, which meant he had no time off. He’s an older player. He may just have been worn down. And what he’s done now is he’s had an off season. So, you know, it will be a blessing for him [the new conditioning], it really will. Do you think that he could make a difference now during the playoff run? We all know how much better this team is if he can hit a couple of three-pointers.

People were always concerned about his lack of scoring, and I’ve always said, if two or more of those three [point shots] fall per game, then all of a sudden he goes from a sixpoint scorer to a 12-point scorer. And you know what he’s going to give you on defence as the quarterback, and he’s the former Defensive Player of the Year. I mean, he’s a great play maker. People being concerned about his scoring, to me that is misplaced energy. All he needs to do is make a couple more shots and everything’s different. And other than the thinking of analyst Charles Barkley, are the Raptors still considered an underdog going into the restart?

I think so. I mean, Milwaukee is obvious, but then you hear about Boston and now Philly is healthy and Miami. I’m like, man, those guys are all behind the Toronto Raptors, that [record] is 46 [wins] and 18 [losses]. And still nobody’s talking about them, and, you know, I just think they’re a better team than people give them credit for.

I think it’s going to be the Raptors and the Clippers. Is there a team you think that will most benefit from this no-home-games restart?

No, I don’t think so. It’s very much a situation like a pickup game where there’s no energy coming from the crowd. It’s like playing on the schoolyard. And you need those guys that are junkyard dogs. The guys who are so competitive. You need a Kyle Lowry who’s willing to take a charge in an all-star game. You need scrappers. You know you need guys that, if you took all the money away and said we’re playing [pickup games] up to seven on the schoolyard, who would you pick? And the Raptors have a bunch of those guys. And how do you think this season will be remembered? Is a simple asterisk even enough to describe what has happened over the last six months?

No, it isn’t, but that’s what they’re going to do. And I would say winning this title might be more difficult than winning the regular title because of the break in the middle and the restart. Everybody is getting a chance to ramp up and fix everything before the playoffs. The Raptors seem to be doing an amazing job of putting Black Lives Matter and racism front and centre. What do you think?

I think it’s great. I think it’s great. And I think it also reminds people that they always say that racism is worldwide, and America has just perfected it. And, you know, that’s what Marc Gasol talked about on his Zoom call with us. How he’s seen it in Europe. So I think the Raptors are doing a great job, and I think they are representative of what protests look like in this day and age, with everybody from every colour, every race saying this has got to change.

16,600 The number of seats at the Toronto Blue Jays minorleague team affiliate’s stadium in Buffalo, where the team will play their home games this season.

$3 The projected budget shortfall for the City of Toronto, in billions of dollars, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

1 The date in August upon which the new NHL season will officially get underway.

25 The ranking for the city of Toronto in a list of the world’s most expensive cities in which to park.

AUGUST 2020

I think they're ramping up. They’re getting ready. I mean, you know, they’ve had that mindset the entire season, like, “You guys didn't think we could do it last year. Now that we lost, you know, our main guy, or what you guys considered our main guy [Kawhi Leonard], you don’t think we can do it again. We’re going to show you.” It’s the classic chip on the shoulder attitude on this team. And they’re fine with nobody talking about them.

The price for a patty at the Drake-approved Patty Stop in Scarborough.

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What is the mood of the team now, given game action is just days away?

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systemic racism, creating safe public spaces for pedestrians and cyclists and finally pushing through solutions for those suffering from homelessness. These things should stay. The coronavirus, it can go. But these people-centred solutions will remain, and we will be better for it in the future. I know, we aren’t out of the woods. I know, a vaccine is no sure thing. But we are getting there, and we are doing it together. We are supporting and looking out for each other, for the most part. It will never be a 100 per cent commitment. That’s just not realistic. But for every person who decides to risk it and head to a party at the beach or unloads anger on a store employee, there are tens of thousands who will send support the next day. For example, at the beach people have parties on the weekends. It is going to happen. But I also know there is a legion of locals who pick up garbage Monday morning. And that’s how it is. That’s the norm. We are a community. And we finally have come to realize we are stronger together.

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Will summer end? Without the Ex, and the weird maybe-backto-school schemes that are gumming up the planning works, it’s hard to tell. Maybe it won’t? Summer got off to a late start. The beaches and parks finally started filling up, maybe more than they should, late last month. Patios seem to have just opened. If I see any Halloween decorations in stores, I’m not sure what I’ll do. Summer in this city is spectacular. There is usually so much to do. The weather is fantastic. The music, the food, the fun. We’ll get back there someday in the not too distant future. For now, we are stuck in this strange new normal where it is hard to tell what season we are in because we don’t venture past the front porch too often. And it’s always shoulder season on the front porch. Here is what I do know. We’ve done well. And I don’t think we say that enough. Ontario has made mistakes, sure. But we, as a city, as a society, have done well. So, pat yourselves on the back, everyone. We celebrate some of the good things that have come out of this very bad year in our cover story. From little things like neighbourhood silly walk signs to larger efforts, like a renewed focus on equity and tackling

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Local residents have been picking up garbage after weekend beach gatherings

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SECTION

sity, was also targeted. The protest was held in conjunction with the organization’s demand to defund the Toronto Police Service. Three people were arrested. In a statement, the group said that the “artistic disruption” of the statues was in solidarity with a worldwide movement to take down monuments to anti-Blackness, white supremacy and colonialism.

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The anti-Black racism movement in the city took a turn for the colourful last month when a number of statues in Toronto were splashed with paint. According to reports, Black Lives Matter protestors doused two statues located at Queen’s Park — Sir John A. MacDonald and King Edward VII. In addition, a statue of Egerton Ryerson, located on the campus of Ryerson Univer-

AUGUST 2020

Statues painted by Black Lives Matter protesters

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NEIGHBOURHOOD

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A new grocery store would be part of the condo development plan

Condo would replace Leaside grocery store Eight-storey development another first in burgeoning south Bayview strip by Eric Stober

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A new rental building will soon be proposed for Bayview Avenue and Millwood Road, adding another development to the area that is already seeing a major uptick in interest from developers. The application for 1466–1500 Bayview Ave. is planned to be submitted to the City of Toronto’s planning department by the end of August by developer Medallion Corp. It is projected to be at least an eight-storey building consisting of one- to three-bedroom rental units with retail on the bottom floor and architecture by Quadrangle. It would include public and private underground parking. “This mid-rise development will assist with increasing the diversity of housing options in the neighbourhood,� the building’s website states. “This proposal will allow for a broad range of people, including families, to live along Bayview.� Although proposing a rental building among Toronto’s sea of condos is a step in a different direction, Medallion’s website notes that rental buildings have “evolved from their dated reputation.� “They now offer many of the same amenities and services as condominiums,� the website states. “This new development will bring a new type of rental living.� The area is currently the site of a Valu-mart grocery store that anchors the south end of Bayview

Avenue. The developer has promised it will bring back a “medium-sized� grocery store as the “anchor retailer� but did not say whether or not it would be the Valu-mart. Medallion chose not to comment to Post City on the development before its proposal is officially submitted to the city. Although the building remains within the eight-storey limit in planning guidelines set by the city and province, it joins a number of other developments in the area that are going beyond the current two-storey makeup. “This is the fourth development that we are aware of on the west side of Bayview,� said Geoff Kettel, Leaside Residents Association copresident, noting that so far the developments have been in the west part of the neighbourhood and on its outskirts. Kettel said the character of the neighbourhood is changing in the taller direction, but that it can have a positive impact on the area by bringing in more customers for businesses, as long as a vibrant street character is preserved. Kettel joined other members of the community at a meeting held last week by Medallion to discuss the proposal. “We suggested they consider taking design cues more from the neighbourhood,� he said. “Leaside is not about individually prominent buildings. It’s more about fitting in.�


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– WE’RE OPEN – The former hotel in north Toronto is being used by the city as a shelter

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Homeless shelter in former Roehampton Hotel concerns residents strongly advocates for community residents’ voices and opinions. “Our support for our city’s most vulnerable is unwavering. Each individual at the Roehampton needs support, but the city must ensure that the community is engaged in these discussions,� he said. According to the City of Toronto, Shelter, Support & Housing Administration, a regular communication process is in the works. “In the meantime, residents have been provided with the on-site manager’s contact,� said City of Toronto senior communications advisor Kris Scheuer. Matlow has also suggested that a stakeholder group of local school boards, condo associations and other residents be formed and consulted on changes to the neighbourhood. He said that the city has agreed to this demand. "The city must have a plan in place to care for the local neighbourhood and property," said Matlow. Security is in place at the shelter, according to the city. "The site will be staffed 24/7 with additional video security surveillance, and for at least the interim there will be two security guards on site 24/7," said Scheuer. Another question is whether essential services, such as drug addiction counselling and therapy, are in place at the shelter. "The site will be operated for the City of Toronto that offers a wide variety of supportive case

management services. City staff will work with clients to navigate challenges related to mental illness and/or addiction. The site operates from a harm reduction approach as outlined by the City of Toronto Shelter Standards," said Scheuer. It's unclear whether those measures are currently in place or will be part of a future plan. There has also been some concern from homeless advocates who suggested that the city is placing two residents in the same room regardless of preference. The practice is known as “doubling-up� and becomes problematic when a recovering addict is assigned the same room with someone actively using. “We had to fight like hell to make sure nobody was doubled up unless they wanted to be, but it has already happened with the previous move in,� said Doug Johnson Hatlem, Sanctuary Street Pastor, in a July 8 tweet. Matlow recognizes the need for homeless support and noted that ignoring some issues (such as drug addiction) is fruitless. “I’m hearing from people who want to help, but people live there who want a plan. There must be a process in place; there must be steps to follow. We cannot ignore problems. Let’s deal with it,� he said. The city has leased the Roehampton site for two years and could extend the lease. Residents should receive a notice about the upcoming virtual community meeting in the coming weeks.

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AUGUST 2020

A north Toronto community is raising questions and concerns over a former hotel put to use by the City of Toronto as a temporary shelter to house residents experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Roehampton Hotel on Mount Pleasant Road is a stark reminder of ’60s architecture and budget travel accommodations. A sign on the hotel’s website says, “Temporarily closed until further notice,� but area residents have noticed some activity lately. Reports of shipping containers in the hotel parking lot and large crowds of people congregating outside the building have some residents expressing concern. The city gained possession of the Roehampton Hotel in June (one of 17 new shelters) and began moving residents into the hotel on July 3. Facing pressure to protect homeless populations from COVID-19, the city moved quickly to lease buildings, set up shelters and move homeless residents. Residents living near the Roehampton Hotel were not informed of the newly opened shelter. Many people took to Twitter to ask local city councillor Josh Matlow about the recent changes hoping for answers. Matlow has been communicating with residents and the city, hoping to open up the lines of communication and put residents’ minds at ease. He stresses the importance of supporting homeless populations, but he

by Harriette Halepis

| POST |

Midtown neighbourhood wants more info

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NEWS

NEIGHBOURHOOD

This year, we have already helped over 30 families buy and sell homes as they move into different chapters of their lives! We can’t wait to help many more! Want to know more about Buying & Selling with the Jamie Dempster Team or have questions about the market? Give us a call – we are here when you’re ready!

501 Vesta Drive has a rich history in Forest Hill

Can city save local heritage home? Forest Hill property up for designation by David Olsen On July 16, Toronto and East York Community Council adopted a recommendation by the Toronto Preservation Board to include 501 Vesta Dr. on the City of Toronto’s Heritage Register. The property was initially nominated for inclusion on the Heritage Register and designation under the Ontario Heritage Act in November 2018. After the property was sold in June 2019, minor variance applications were submitted to the city that involved

“To lose this home

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would be to lose an expertly crafted piece of art.”

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the demolition of the existing house to facilitate the construction of two new houses, one on each of the lots that comprise the property. Garry Hurvitz, a direct neighbour of 501 Vesta Dr., supports the designation of the property. In a letter to the preservation board, he noted that constructing the two buildings would necessitate the destruction of mature trees on the property and, according to his own arborist’s report, would affect and likely kill trees on his property as well. “It was designed to fit onto its lot, includes mature foliage and trees and features architectural

details that could never be replaced. To lose this home would be to lose an expertly crafted piece of art,” wrote Hurvitz. The property, located in Forest Hill, was originally owned by philanthropist Lady Edith J. Baillie, widow of Sir Frank Baillie, an industrialist who played a significant role in the establishment of the Canadian steel industry. It is situated on a double lot and is representative of an Arts and Crafts movement house with Tudor Revival–style details. The house was completed in 1930 and was designed by architect Douglas E. Kertland. “This home is an untouched example of early Forest Hill architecture. It speaks to the character of the neighbourhood and is surrounded by mature trees of the same age of the home (90 years of age),” wrote another neighbour, Michael Antoszek, in a letter to the preservation board. Properties on the Heritage Register will be conserved and maintained in accordance with the Official Plan Heritage Policies. Designation enables Toronto City Council to review alterations to the site, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance and refuse demolition. After being approved by community council, the designation will now go to city council for approval to be placed on the Heritage Register.


NEIGHBOURHOOD

NEWS

New condo proposal grew after province loosened the rules

Councillor predicts free-for-all Yonge and Eg condo plan balloons from 39 to 65 storeys Wallman Architects, proposes to include 663 one- to threebedroom condo units along with retail space in a multi-level podium on the ground level. The midtown development is planned steps from both the subway and LRT, but Colle said he doesn’t see that making any difference to the density problems in the area. “Nevermind the LRT, you’ve got to wait for six subway cars to get out in the morning,” he said. “We can’t handle what we have now. How are we going to handle 65 storeys?” Colle thinks this project will set a new precedent for midtown development, which he said currently has towers around 40 storeys. Since the province’s policy changes, he said it will now be a “free-for-all.” —Eric Stober

Hospital taking over Villa Colombo long-term care The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is appointing Humber River Hospital as the interim manager of long-term care home Villa Colombo in North York. In a press release from July 17, the ministry stated that the facility, located at 40 Playfair Ave., in the area of Dufferin and Lawrence has been unable to contain the spread of COVID-19. Humber River Hospital will now manage the care in the home along with the team at Villa Colombo and fill the executive director role. “I am confident that the talented staff at Humber River Hospital and Villa Colombo will work together to combat COVID-19,” said Minister of Long Term Care Dr. Merrilee Fullerton. According to Villa Colombo’s website, as of June 15, the facility had a total of 17 active COVID-19

cases in the home and three active cases at the hospital. The website says they have thus far lost 29 residents to complications of COVID-19 and currently have six active cases among staff members, who are off work and in isolation. According to a letter posted on the website signed by Joe Fusco, chair of Villa Colombo’s board of governors and president, and Barbara Collins, CEO of Humber River Hospital, the hospital and long-term care home have been informally partnered over the last few months at the request of the province. Ruben Rodriguez, current Humber River Hospital interim program director of the hospital’s COVID-19 co-ordinated response will assume the role of executive director at Villa Colombo. —David Olsen

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Bousfields said in a statement. The new height though goes beyond what the area can handle, according to local councillor Mike Colle. “Sixty-five storeys is obscene and disgusting,” Colle said. “Right now there is no daylight there, there’s no room to walk on the sidewalk. You can’t get on the subway.” Colle said the midtown development application was changed a couple of weeks ago and there currently are no laws to limit a tower’s height due to the province amending the TOcore and Midtown in Focus plans in June last year. “The province has given [developers] free reign to do whatever they want,” he said. “This type of doubling [in height] is unprecedented.” The tower, designed by

| POST |

A previously proposed tower plan at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue has almost doubled in height to become the latest tall midtown development to be submitted to the City of Toronto, Planning for approval. The proposal for 36 Eglinton Ave. W. was first put forward to the city by Lifetime Developments and approved for a height of 39 storeys, but due to restrictions being lifted by the province, the application has been changed to a whopping 65 storeys. If built, it would be the tallest tower to be built north of Bloor Street in Toronto. “In contrast to the 2013 zoning approval for 39 storeys, the new Yonge-Eglinton Secondary Plan policies more explicitly support intensification and increased height on the subject site,” consultant planning firm

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NEWS

STINTZ ON MIDTOWN

Midtown BIA board removed by the city New leadership in place when retail support is needed most

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Midtown regularly ranks as one of the best Toronto neighbourhoods in which to live. One of the strongest elements of the neighbourhood is the local shopping strips that create a small-town feel in the heart of the biggest city in Canada. There are many incredible main street retailers in midtown. Supporting the success of these community businesses is a primary function of local Business Improvement Associations, more commonly known as BIAs. The BIAs across the city inject millions of dollars of investment into the 82 communities they represent. BIAs also inform the city’s policy for small business. In response to the shutdowns that occurred in response to the pandemic, the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) helped restaurants by lobbying the city so that restaurants could quickly and easily expand their patio footprint.

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The Uptown Yonge BIA is now a three-person interim team

As street level retail opens and people feel more comfortable venturing into their local shops, the role of the BIA becomes ever more important to support the recovery efforts of small business. Given the importance and independence of local BIAs, it is very unusual that councillors Mike

Colle and Jaye Robinson stepped in to remove the members of the board of the Uptown Yonge BIA and replace them with an interim board. It is virtually unheard of that local elected officials would intervene in the affairs of a BIA, but some allege the councillors had few options since the previous

board was reportedly not able to fulfill its mandate, and the result could have negatively impacted the Yonge Street retailers. For over a year and a half, the BIA board was allegedly not working because the board consisted of building owners, not retailers. As a result, the retailers’ concerns were not being addressed although they were the ones who were paying the majority of the fees. Promotional events, like the annual Mother’s Day Celebration, were cancelled and key staffing positions almost eliminated because it is thought that the board didn’t see value in the work being done to promote the area. Finally in June, city council removed the board. Now there is a three-person interim team, which includes a local retailer, a member of the city’s economic development department and the executive director of TABIA. The goal is for the interim board to serve for a few months until a permanent board can be

established to set the vision and direction for Uptown Yonge. The new board, once elected, will certainly have their work to do. The local retailers were under pressure before the pandemic, and now it is even more critical that the BIA has a plan of action for revitalizing the area. Although there are many empty storefronts, there are also solid businesses that continue to serve the local community through these difficult times, but they need all the help they can get. It is more important than ever to support the local retailers that help keep midtown one of the best neighbourhoods in Toronto.

KAREN STINTZ

Karen Stintz is a former city councillor, elected in 2003, and was chair of the TTC. She lives in Ward 8.


SEWELL ON CITY HALL

NEWS

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 2010

TORONTO'S

LEADING A rendering of modular housing on Harrison Street

Modular housing not tents A great idea, but execution has been a problem for the city

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Developments meant only for low-income households, such as public housing projects in the ’50s and ’60s, do not result in good places to live. And we have relevant experience regarding the housing of single people. The very first affordable housing project the Reform council planned for Toronto was in 1973, the Dundas Sherbourne project. It was a new innovative approach to city building: many of the existing houses were retained and renovated into apartment units of different sizes. A new low-rise apartment building was constructed behind these houses. As alderman for this part of the city, I wanted to ensure the development served the many single men living in rooming houses, so I pushed for a whole bunch of small apartment units for them. The rest of the project was a mixture of affordable family housing and market rental housing of various kinds. The housing for the single men was placed in the new structure. Now, almost 40 years later, everything works well in the development – except the housing for the singles. There is simply too much of it crammed together and it has proven too difficult to manage well. I believe the same thing will happen with these developments of 56 and 44 single units. Three-storey building forms are appropriate, but there should be a mix of different unit sizes — maybe half for singles, the rest two- and three-bedroom units for families with kids. And there should be a mix of incomes, maybe

PHARMACY

| POST |

There is nothing more frustrating than to see a good idea ruined by poor execution. The good idea quickly becomes debased. The good idea for Toronto City Council is building new affordable housing, which, as the profusion of tent cities in parks, ravines and medians demonstrates, is sorely needed. To improve on that good idea the city is using modular housing, pre-built in a factory then transported to the site for final installation. Modular housing can be occupied within four months of arriving at the site, whereas traditional construction would take 18 months or two years. So modular housing is a fine idea for meeting the immediate demand of new affordable housing. Two sites were chosen for the new housing, Massey Avenue in the Victoria Park and Danforth area in the east end and Harrison Street at Dovercourt and Dundas in the west end. So far so good. Then comes the poor execution. The plan is to make both developments only small apartments for single people: 55 on the Massey site, 44 on the Harrison site. But putting that many single people, many of whom have social and mental health issues, in big clumps like this is bound to produce trouble for the people who live there and for surrounding neighbours. One can understand the desire to create as much housing as quickly as possible for single, homeless people, but it makes no sense to do it in a way that experience shows will be unsuccessful.

40 per cent low market rental, with the rest subsidized. Toronto City Council should build affordable housing in all neighbourhoods of the city — using modular units is a terrific innovation — but it must be done right so it benefits everyone in the long term. That means projects with a mix of unit size and a mix of incomes. Experience shows that’s what works well. On a separate note, last month, I wrote about reforming the Toronto Police Service. City council grappled with calls for reforming policing in Toronto on June 29, and although it did not agree with the idea of cutting 10 per cent of the police budget, it made several significant and positive changes including asking city staff to help establish quick response teams to calls involving those in mental crisis without involving armed and uniformed police officers. As well, it asked the police service to provide this year’s budget in a line-by-line, functionby-function format by the end of July in addition to asking the city’s auditor general to do a value for money audit of the police service. These are all good starts to getting a better police service for Toronto.

COMPOUNDING

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Co N ns o F ul ee ta tio n

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Restaurants across the city are continuing to open new patios as part of the CaféTO program. With indoor dining still prohibited in Toronto, the initiative has been a lifeline for restaurants that previously had limited or non-existent outdoor dining space in which to serve customers, such as midtown’s Little Sister restaurant. Jennifer Gittins, co-owner of Little Sister, a restaurant specializing in Indonesian fare, said CaféTO has allowed her to

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to hire back my staff, which is huge.” expand her outdoor seating from a single table of four to 30 spots. “It’s given us hope that we can survive this,” she says, describing the last few months of takeoutonly service as “devastating.” Gittins said that the biggest challenge to reopening has been making a patio set on high-traffic Yonge Street look appealing and feel safe for diners. “You’re dining next to cars going right by,” she explained. The restaurant has added wooden posts anchored by cement blocks to create a barrier between part of the dining area

and the street and brought in umbrellas and matching patio furniture to make the space look welcoming. “I honestly didn’t think people would embrace it — that they wouldn’t want to dine in a laneway on Yonge Street — but in actuality they really have, so we’re very fortunate,” she said. She said the patio has been consistently busy since opening last month, attracting a mix of walk-ins and reservations. “It’s allowed me to hire back my staff, which is huge,” she said. According to Gittins, customers have generally been respectful of the new health and safety guidelines Little Sister has been required to implement. “There are always some people that don’t understand it,” she said, noting that the restaurant has spare masks for customers going inside to use the washroom that haven’t brought their own. The pandemic has also put the brakes on the opening of Little Sister’s second location at King Street West and Portland Street, which Gittins said her team is now aiming to open next month. Although she’s hopeful that indoor dining will be permitted by then, she said they would potentially open the second location for takeout and patio service in the interim. “We’re super happy to be just that one step closer to being back to a normal restaurant,” she said. — Jessica Huras


CRIME

NEWS

AREA BREAK-INS JULY 2020 - TORONTO

WHERE

WHEN

TIME OF DAY

GLASSWORKS DR. AND EGLINTON AVE. E.

JULY 1

4 P.M.

YONGE ST. AND WOODLAWN AVE. E.

JULY 2

11 A.M.

CASTLEWOOD RD. AND EGLINTON AVE. W.

JULY 3

2 A.M.

DORIS AVE. AND MCKEE AVE.

JULY 3

6 A.M.

PARK HOME AVE. AND COBDEN ST.

JULY 3

11 A.M.

PEMBERTON AVE. AND MAXOME AVE.

JULY 3

9 P.M.

BAYVIEW AVE. AND YORK MILLS RD.

JULY 5

8 P.M.

ELM RIDGE DR. AND BATHURST ST.

JULY 7

11 P.M.

BYNG AVE. AND WILLOWDALE AVE.

JULY 8

1 P.M.

SOUDAN AVE. AND MOUNT PLEASANT RD.

JULY 9

7 A.M.

ROSEWELL AVE. AND GLENVIEW AVE.

JULY 9

11 P.M.

SERVINGTON CRES. AND THURLOE AVE.

JULY 11

5 P.M.

SOUTHVALE DR. AND MALLORY CRES.

JULY 12

11 A.M.

HEATH ST. E. AND ALVIN AVE.

JULY 13

5 A.M.

ERSKINE AVE. AND REDPATH AVE.

JULY 13

6 A.M.

TULLIS DR. AND MANOR RD. E.

JULY 13

9 P.M.

TOLMAN ST. AND LORRAINE DR.

JULY 14

4 A.M.

YORK RIDGE RD. AND YORK MILLS RD.

JULY 16

5 A.M.

Can’t wait to make you smile again! (Behind your mask)

416-486-1136 www.belmandental.com 1881 YONGE ST (At Davisville)

CRIME BRIEFS

Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of a potential child luring incident in

officers have arrested a teacher with the Toronto District School Board as part of a sexual assault investigation. It is alleged that, between January and June of 2020, a male suspect befriended a 17-year-old female victim and that they communicated in-person and on telecommunications devices, and that the suspect sexually assaulted the victim. On Friday, July 10, Toronto Police Service

police arrested a 45-year-old male suspect, a teacher who has taught at Georges Vanier Secondary School since 2007. He is charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual exploitation and luring a child. Investigators are concerned there may be other victims. Police are seeking public assistance in identifying a male suspect in a mischief investigation after an incident with a TTC vehicle at the intersection of Don Mills Road and Sheppard Avenue East. On June 18, a TTC bus was at the intersection when a man attempted to enter the bus but was refused access due to COVID-19 capacity rules. He became involved in a dispute with the driver, then walked away from the bus and proceeded to strike and break one of the front windows with his hand, before fleeing eastbound on Sheppard. Police have released security camera images of the man.

AUGUST 2020

the area of Dunview Avenue and Longmore Street near Finch Avenue East and Willowdale Avenue. On July 2, at some point between 6 and 8 p.m., a female victim, a child, was riding her bicycle on Longmore Street when she was approached by a male suspect driving a white van. The suspect offered the child candy in an attempt to entice her into the vehicle. The child ignored the offer and rode away to safety. The suspect drove away eastbound on Dunview Avenue. Police have released pictures of both the suspect and vehicle.

| POST |

Toronto Police Service, Hold Up Squad has announced the arrest of a 43-year-old Brampton male suspect as part of a bank robbery investigation after an incident in the area of St. Clair Avenue West and Dufferin Street. It is alleged that on Wednesday, July 22, a male suspect entered a bank disguised in a hoodie, sunglasses, a face mask and gloves. The man approached the counter, threatened a 20-year-old male victim with a concealed weapon and demanded money. Fearing for his safety, the victim handed over a quantity of cash. The suspect then fled the scene in a vehicle with the money. Officers with Toronto Police Service then located the suspect in the getaway vehicle, at which point the suspect attempted to flee. He was arrested and charged that day with robbery and disguise with intent and was due to appear in court on July 23.

15


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| POST | A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

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REAL ESTATE

NEWS

LAKE JOSEPH

FAIRY LAKE

THREE-STOREY SANCTUARY

FOUR-LEVEL LAKE HOUSE

The custom-built retreat at 57 Lake Dr. is equipped with a study, library, gym, workshop and gourmet kitchen. It has 150 feet of shoreline and is listed for $2.995 mil with Royal LePage.

Sitting 60 feet high over the water, 1952B Lake Joseph was built for entertaining. The property has seven bedrooms, including a guest cabin and boathouse, and also has a life-sized chessboard. It is on offer for $6.995 million with Sotheby’s International Realty.

THE ULTIMATE IN LAKESIDE LUXURY With residents across Toronto desperate to leave the city, cottage country real estate has never been hotter. Here’s a look at four multimillion-dollar properties that make for the perfect Muskoka retreat, if your budget knows no bounds.

CUSTOM-BUILT LOG HOME

CONTEMPORARY COTTAGE

The six-bedroom cottage at 1041 Hilltop Cres. boasts a massive granite patio, hot tub, sauna and boathouse with a built-in wet bar. It’s listed for $6.995 mil with Sotheby’s International Realty.

The modern build at 57B Wildcat Point Rd. comes with soaring glass walls that complement its open concept design. The five-bedroom build is listed for $5.995 mil with Christie’s International Real Estate.

AUGUST 2020

LAKE ROSSEAU

| POST |

LAKE OF BAYS

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Supply is down roughly 50 per cent from last year in Muskoka

What’s driving the price up for vacation homes?

| POST | A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

Lack of supply and renewed interest in local travel spur market by Eric Stober

18

Ontario’s cottage country real estate is seeing a boom since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold as city dwellers look to the great outdoors for more space. “It’s probably the strongest market that I’ve seen in many, many years,” Chestnut Park CEO Chris Kapches said. “[Cottage country] has been operating at least 50 per cent better than what it was a year ago — and last year was a particularly strong year.” Chestnut Park does real estate business in Collingwood, Georgian Bay, Muskoka, Haliburton and Prince Edward County. Kapches credits this year’s particularly strong market to a combination of factors. Number one is the pandemic, which has caused people “to want to escape dense urban environments.” “Clearly if you’re in cottage country, the environment is not dense,” he said. “You have lots of space. You have sanctuary.” Secondly, Kapches said the pandemic has accelerated an already developing phenomena — working remotely. Since you can work from anywhere, wouldn’t you prefer the great outdoors to the cramped city? The third reason is economic, Kapches said. Although many have lost their income due to the pandemic, it has also dropped

interest rates to a historic low of 2.3 per cent, which many are taking advantage of. “It is relatively easy to finance a cottage or rural property now under the circumstances,” Kapches said. Lakelands Association of Realtors president Catharine Inniss thinks the boom is partly due to travel restrictions that have some Canadians opting for a staycation instead, as well as the volatility of the stock market creating a desire to put money into a “safer place.” And investing is what people are doing. According to Inniss, sales in Muskoka have reached nearly $200 million this year, up from $130 million last year. However, there is a caveat, and that is the limited amount of stock in the market. “A concern on the horizon is a lack of supply,” Kapches said. “Supply is about 35 to 50 per cent behind where we were last year.” Given the relatively low stock and competitiveness of the market — Inniss said this year properties are selling at around 23 days compared to 132 days in 2017 — a local realtor can let you know of new listings immediately. “If you come with somebody from the city you live in, they don’t know the market,” Inniss said. “You can run into a lot of pitfalls.”


What about the idea of parents buying a condo for their kids as a long-term hedge against inflation?

That is one thing that I strongly advocate for parents to do. We have had many parents make this kind of investment. If you have children or are planning to have children, this is the best financial move you can make for them. If the parents keep the investment for 25 years, by the time the child is 25, the property will be owned 100 per cent because mortgages are paid off over 25 years. In effect, your tenant has paid off your mortgage. A $500,000 property in 25 years will be a $2,000,000 asset debt-free. What a start for your 25-year-old child. That’s a great idea. We all know how tough it is on young adults trying to find housing in the city and start their careers off on the right foot.

It's hard to beat the rate of return on a Toronto condo investment

Why you should buy your child a condo It might be the smartest decision you make Is buying a condominium from floor plans, closing on those units and then renting them a good business?

Yes. It’s been an incredibly good business. I’ve been selling real estate since 1988, and even today we’ve been able to gain doubledigit annual returns for investors who buy these units. If you can buy condos that carry or come close to carrying all costs year one in a city like Toronto, that is the holy grail. Significant wealth is created when investors hold real estate long term. So how does it work?

Generally speaking, whether you buy it in a downturn, an upturn or flat market, hold the property for at least 25 years. The returns on invested capital will be 15 to 25 per cent a year. For example, I’m delivering a finished building in November this year. People who bought a one-bedroom four years ago for $265,000 can now sell for

$625,000. These people have made almost $360,000 on their purchase. They invested $40,000. That's a return on investment of nine times in four to five years. There’s no business that can deliver this kind of return and also protect you very well from the downside. I still suggest that buyers keep it for 25 years or more. But that must just be for the best locations, right?

It doesn't really matter where you buy in the GTA or areas around the GTA. Whether you buy in Toronto, Hamilton, Waterloo or Scarborough, all these areas are appreciating. This entirety of southwestern Ontario is experiencing tremendous economic growth. So it doesn’t matter where you buy. You still have to do some homework in evaluating the builder and the building. This is where one of my real estate agents can come in handy to guide you.

Exactly. So when your child comes out of university or is two or three years out of the first job, you can gift them a fully paid off condominium that will set them up for life. They will never have to worry about money again. Imagine if you were 25 today and your parents gave you a $750,000, 550-square-foot, onebedroom apartment. Imagine what that would mean for your child’s future. It will even protect your grandchildren. They could live there and enjoy living in an apartment as a single person, which is always better when you own rather than rent. You get to decorate, buy nice furniture. It is yours to work with. They can then sell it and move up the property ladder. They get married or they move in with someone, they can start a family with a fantastic financial foundation. It’s not hard to do. We’ve done it with many, many people. And I highly recommend it. If there's one thing a parent should do if they can for their kid, this is it. I've done this for my daughter. For me, it just feels amazing to know that, at a minimum, no matter how badly I mess up, my daughter is going to have a home when she turns 20 or 25. BRAD LAMB

Post City Magazines’ columnist Brad Lamb is the CEO of Brad J. Lamb Realty Inc.and Lamb Development Corp. He has more than 30 years of industry experience.

Our PATIO Is Now OPEN

Looking forward to seeing you for DINE-IN in August! Please call for reservations

Also Open for Take-Out www.windfieldsrestaurant.com Delivery Now Available

Windfields will remain open at our current location (801 York Mills Road) for several more years!

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AUGUST 2020

NEWS

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ASK A LAMB

19


R ET U RN O F T HE DRI VE- I N Pop-up drive-in

Toronto Shines is taking place at Ontario Place until Oct. 31 and features weekly comedy, music and movies from independent films to old-school blockbusters.

Lakeside views

© Toronto Shines

CityView Drive-in at Polson Pier is quickly becoming the new concert spot in the city. This month catch A Tribe Called Red on Aug. 6 and DVSN on Aug. 7.

Socially distanced cars parked at the Toronto Shines drive-in at dusk

25 good things to come out of a very tough year From an outpouring of solidarity against systemic racism to rallying around main street and even the rebirth of the drive-in, we report on the many ways our city has come together

S O N G S & I M PR O V I N T H E C I T Y

H U R R AY F O R HEROES

Balcony concerts

Make some noise

When live music in bars was a no-go, the Senator responded with a physical distance– friendly balcony concert series featuring Ori Dagan and more.

The nightly banging of pots and pans on porches and balconies across the city showing appreciation for health-care workers.

Feeding the front line

| POST | A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

Countless restaurants and local organizations stepped up to donate meals to hospital workers including this group from Liberty Entertainment.

20

A L FRE SCO I N T H E SI X Work out in nature Local fitness studios, such as Yoga Tree and Fit Factory, brought the sweat sessions outside with yoga, HIIT and even spin classes in parks and parking lots.

People in parks

Yes, there was that Trinity Bellwoods incident, but the majority of residents have taken to parks to responsibly picnic and play, and it’s been delightful.

Instagram lessons

Arkells lead singer Max Kerman carried music lovers through the pandemic with his Instagram Live music classes and even brought on celeb guests.

V irtual theatre

From Second City’s virtual improv to Outside the March’s remote theatre with personalized phone calls, the arts community brought the stage to our homes.


C R E AT I V E CU I SI NE & C O C K TA I L S

W H EE LS , H OO PS A N D S NE AK S Separated bike lanes have been installed on major streets, such as University Avenue and Dundas Street, to create a larger cycling network.

Get active T.O.

The city closed down major roadways like Lake Shore Boulevard on the weekends to push cars aside and make way for runners, walkers and cyclists.

CLEA N A IR & W IL DL IF E Climate-friendly calm

With people working from home and only heading out for essential trips, roadways and highways were barren. Less cars is less pollution and a happier climate.

Foxes on the boardwalk

The lack of human activity allowed for wildlife to thrive, such as the foxes and their kits who nestled into a home under the Beach Boardwalk.

Distance machine To illustrate a very important point, a local resident created a hoop-like social distance machine to advocate for more pedestrian space on sidewalks.

© Daniel Rotsztain/Twitter

Back to bikes

N EI GHB O UR S & ‘ H OO D S Porch parties

Little free pantries

Baking bread

Silly walks

V irtual chats

Epic bagel order

From a musical family in the Annex who teamed up with local instrumentalists to play a song each night to the weekly drag shows on a quiet street near Bathurst and Sheppard.

One resident adopted out more than 100 sourdough starters to neighbours in Leaside and Davisville eager to bake bread. And so, a T.O. bread-baking collective was born.

While Torontonians went months without physically seeing family and friends, many connected over Zoom, House Party, FaceTime and more.

Cocktail delivery

With so many residents in need, little free pantry boxes popped up on lawns across the city filled with non-perishable food, masks and sanitary items for anyone in need.

With alcohol allowed in takeout orders, Toronto bars created kits for libations, from Mahjong Bar’s Tame Impala kit to Project Gigglewater’s Toilet Paper Greens.

One stretch of sidewalk near Bayview and Eglinton became the Ministry of Silly Walks, inspired by Monty Python, where residents would silly walk their way through.

The Dufferin Grove and Seaton village neighbours teamed up to order 440 pounds of Montreal’s St. Viateur bagels and raised $880 for a local non-profit.

Dining al fresco

The city created CafeTO to expand restaurant patios. Restaurateurs responded with chic parking lot, sidewalk and street-side patios and diners are loving it.

S U P P O RT S OCI A L A CT IV IS M

Advocates had been calling for the city to provide safe housing for Toronto’s homeless. The city responded quickly, housing homeless individuals in hotel rooms and community centres, and multiple apartments have been made available in areas such as Yonge and Eglinton and Kensington.

High-end takeout

© Flickr/Jason Hargrove

Housing the homeless

From Tachi’s wagyu steaks and Sushi Masaki Saito’s decadent boxes to prix fixe multi-course meals from Dandylion, Alobar and more, at-home dining got a boost. 21 | POST |

After the killing of George Floyd on May 25 by a Minneapolis police officer, protests took place across Toronto against police brutality and systemic racism. This sparked conversations about defunding the police and how all Torontonians can become better allies to Black and Indigenous people and people of colour.

AUGUST 2020

Black Lives Matter


22

| POST | A U G U S T 2 0 2 0


Currents SECTION

Clockwise from top left: Adele at the Rivoli circa 2008, the interior of N’awlins, LMT Connection performing at the Orbit Room and midtown’s Alleycatz

nounced its permanent closure in early July. Next was the Orbit Room in Little Italy, which announced it will not be reopening. Iconic Queen West venue the Rivoli is also in trouble. The owners have put it up for sale, hoping the new owner will be able to keep the venue alive. And after 25 years on restaurant row on King West, N’awlins Jazz Bar is now also saying goodbye to the city.

| POST |

As the city progresses through the stages of reopening, many residents were hoping to hear their favourite spots for live entertainment would be back to business, only to find out that they are permanently closing. An unfortunate trend has begun with some of the city’s most treasured music venues closing or for sale. Yonge and Eglinton jazz bar Alleycatz, a mainstay of the neighbourhood, an-

AUGUST 2020

The sound of silence

23


SUMMER SHOPPING

Lather & Steel barbershop

IS BACK TORONTO! And we are taking every precautionary measure to protect our barbers, clients and our community! “We specialize in all your alteration needs.”

latherandsteel.ca

| POST | A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

Rosedale

24

647 351 7077 Cumberland

SERVING THE YORKVILLE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS!

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SUMMER SHOPPING

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AUGUST 2020

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SUMMER SHOPPING

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AND FURNISHINGS

Manufacturers Clearance Centre 84 Doncaster Ave.

(Yonge & Steeles)

MASSIVE CLEARANCE SALE UP TO 80% OFF Many items below cost!

CLASSIC TRADITIONAL MODERN

CHANDELIERS • PENDANTS • SCONCES • LAMPS • OUTDOOR • BULBS FANS • PARTS • CEILING & VANITY LIGHTING • CONSIGNMENT • BUY • TRADE

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Brand Name Lighting for Less!

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Specializing in Fixture & Lamp Repair, and Fixture Restoration phone:

905.482.0350 Tues to Fri 10am – 6pm • Sat 10am – 5pm • Sun 12 – 5pm Visit us at www.inhomelighting.ca | Email: inhomelighting@rogers.com


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Since 1947

THE BEST FOR LESS

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BUY • SELL • TRADE

Estate Jewellery and Watches

Tues. Wed. Fri. 10:30am–5:30pm Thurs. 10:30am–6:30pm Sat. 11:00am–5:00pm Sun. Mon. Closed

Shipping Available Across Canada. 2 Hours Free Parking in The Colonnade with Purchase.

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PAOLA DI BOUTIQUE WE’RE BACK! THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

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AUGUST 2020

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90 Eglinton Avenue East

O N L I N E & I N - S T O R E B L O O R S T R E E T W E S T , T O R O N T O

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SUMMER LISTINGS

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SUMMER OF PARASOLS & WIDE BRIMS

CURRENTS

FASHION

The days have been hot, hot, hot, so it has never been more important to shield your skin from that summer sun. We asked Jeanne Beker to pick her favourite wide-brim hats and parasols to ensure we can all stay stylish and safe in the shade.

FUN AND FEMININE

MaryamKeyhani.com, $475, “I love the combination of light pink with black and the red cap, so it's got a bit of an edge to it.”

FANTASTIC FRINGE

ArchivesToronto.com, $287, “This fringe has a wild, almost jungle vibe to it with the funky fedora styling at the top and this huge brim.” THREE-TIER TOP

LilliputHats.com, $195, “This is definitely something Audrey Hepburn would've worn. It gives you great height too.”

POP OF ORANGE

HoltRenfrew.com, $279, “This hat is an incredible style statement. It looks really chic, and this colour is wonderful.”

DOTS AND DARTS

Shopbop.com, $48.99, “This is summery with the stripes and polka dots and this adorable little duck on the handle. It’s a cute accessory.”

PRETTY PETALS

Simons.ca, $45, “This one is pretty vibrant and optimistic but classy with that nice brown background.”

STRAW SENSATION

IntermixOnline.com, $608.21, “I really like this straw plaid fedora. It's unusual to see plaid in a straw hat, and I love it.”

STARRY NIGHT

TheBay.com, $50, “I really like this one. It's very dramatic, and for those of us who swear by black, this is a great hat."

MODERN EDGE

SportingLife.ca, $66, “This white hat is a classic with the black band, which gives it an edge: the perfect hat for the beach.”

ULTIMATE SHADE VISOR VIBES

ShopFrock.ca, $35, “This visor is so chic, you can dress it up or down, and it would be perfect for a day of golf or tennis.”

ArchivesToronto.com, $575, “It looks like it drags down your back and covers your shoulders. This yellow hat is sensational."

JEANNE BEKER | One of Canada’s most trusted authorities on style and fashion, Jeanne has covered the industry for more than 30 years. Now watch her in her current style editor role on TSC’s Style Matters with Jeanne Beker.

AUGUST 2020

DRAMATIC BLACK

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LaBella-Umbrella.com, $45, “I really love this Van Gogh umbrella. Why confine art to your home when you can wear it out and about.”

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COVID -19 NOTICE Rest assured, all aspects of my business are conducted with strict safety precautions in place. Relaxed COVID-19 related restrictions are done in accordance with the Ontario government’s framework to protect the health and safety of our clients and colleagues.

95 OLD COLONY RD.

259 GLENCAIRN AVE.

$10,800,000. 100’ X 296’ LOT, 5 BEDS & 9 BATHS, APPROX. 9,125 SQ. FT. + BSMT

$4,799,000. 50’ x 207’ LOT, 5+2 BEDS & 6 BATHS, APPROX. 4,000 SQ. FT. + BSMT

14 GROSVENOR CRT.

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$1,200,000. 55’ X 132’ LOT, 3 BEDS & 2 BATHS.

22 LEADER LANE #539

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$679,000. 1 BED & 1 BATH, APPROX. 675 SQ. FT.

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155 YORKVILLE AVE. #3112

$509,000. STUDIO & 1 BATH, APPROX. 370 SQ. FT.


GREAT ESCAPES

CURRENTS

a modified wellness experience on a lake.

retreat

Luxury in Muskoka

With travel bans in place and safety top of mind, the cottage is the ultimate escape At this point, we know that summer 2020 will be focused primarily on domestic travel. Luckily for Ontario, we live in a province rich with stunning views, sparkling lakes and magical sunsets. Whether you’re in search of a quiet lakefront getaway or the fun, sightseeing experience of a rural provincial community, here are the best places in Ontario for a luxurious cottage getaway. Explore in the Rideau Lakes

The Rideau Lakes in eastern Ontario are beautifully tranquil and attract many retirees. Only recently has this area started to draw the younger crowds — the numbers and the dollars make it a sought-after summer cottage destination. Rideau Lakes include Big Rideau Lake, Little Rideau Lake and Newboro Lake at the summit of the Rideau Canal. The region enjoys more than 500 kilometres of coastline with more large, luxurious and modern cottages accompanied by

beautiful boats popping up every year. Many cottages have private shorelines with private boat launches, multiple boat docks and walk-in swimming. Boating is big here. The Rideau Lakes region is teeming with history: the famous canal built for military purposes with lots of locks, falls and accompanying hiking trails. In 2007, these waterways were designated a UNESCO world heritage site, recognizing the canal as a masterpiece of human creative genius. This is the place to show off one’s boat while spending the day cruising the lakes or the locks. No boat? No problem. There are multiple marinas where you can rent luxury speedboats, pontoons and more. Although the nine local museums are closed throughout the pandemic, this summer destination is ideal during COVID-19 due to its many options for social distancing. In addition to days spent relaxing on

the water, the Rideau Lakes have many parks, conservation areas and hiking trails for exploring either by foot or on horseback. Fishing is a huge pastime here, and residents are happy to share their stories of the one that got away. Unique stays in the Kawarthas

It is not just the delicious Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream that draws those in search of city escapes to the Kawarthas: The word “kawartha” itself means bright waters and happy lakes. The region boasts 250 sparkling lakes and rivers connected by the historic Trent-Severn Waterway. As the Kawarthas is the houseboat capital of Ontario, one can expect to find fleets of beautiful, fully equipped houseboats available to rent throughout the summer and a skipper to guide one through the waters if needed. For those in search of something equally as unique and perhaps even more opulent, try

the famous upcycled Off-Grid Solar Shipping Container Cottage designed by HGTV’s Rebecca Purdy. On a private lake, with a private pool and 140 acres to explore, this property is the ultimate getaway. If visitors are looking for more traditional cottages, luxurious, intimate and private lakefront properties are not hard to find. If food fuels a family getaway, prior to the pandemic, the Kawarthas had full-day, foodfocused itineraries that covered breakfast to dessert and everything in-between. There is the ice cream, of course, but one cannot forget the famous Butter Tart Tour, the Chip Truck Trail or chocolate tours. Canada’s longest running free admission summer concert series, Peterborough Musicfest, is on hold this year, as is the Dragon Boat Festival and the underwater dining series in the Peterborough Lift Lock, but one can still spend the day at one of the area’s indulgent day spas or take part in

NATALIE PREDDIE

Natalie Preddie is a travel and lifestyle writer, speaker and guest expert on Cityline, Your Morning and Global’s The Morning Show, and we are excited to welcome her as Post City’s newest columnist.

AUGUST 2020

Crafting the perfect getaway — whether it’s off to the Kawarthas or Rideau Lakes

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Clockwise from left: A family enjoying a rental from Happy Days Houseboats in the Kawarthas, a scenic view at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery, and some of the butter tarts that will appear on the Butter Tart Tour in the Kawarthas

There is a reason that Muskoka is consistently named one of the best places to visit in Canada — to start, it has 1,600 lakes and 14,000 kilometres of shoreline. Add rivers, beaches, rolling green countryside, wineries and art, and it is easy to see why celebrities like Martin Short, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks choose to spend their summers here. The type of cottages on Muskoka’s most famous lakes (Lake Joseph, Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau) typically err on the luxurious side — cottages by name but sprawling lakeside houses in reality. They are private and tranquil with towering trees, and some may only be accessible by boat. For those looking to rent, expect large multi-bedroom properties, elegantly designed and tastefully furnished. Boats are often part of one’s rental agreement, which is good. Everyone needs a boat. Boating, swimming, wakeboarding are all in a day’s work in Muskoka, as is fishing, hiking or a round of golf at one of the region’s stunning golf courses. Before COVID-19, the Muskoka Brewery offered tours with both beer and spirit pairings, so did the Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery with their enticing cranberry marsh, ciders and fruit wine. Although both facilities are now open, masks are mandatory and other restrictions are in place, meaning a slightly different experience than in the past. Many restaurants, operating within provincial restrictions, are offering takeout or delivery. A brunch from Soul Sistas is always a good idea, and a famous butter tart from Ladybug Café will cure any sweet tooth. Pre-COVID, the third weekend of August would have been the Dockside Festival of the Arts, but it, along with the Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery and Arts & Crafts Summer Show, has been cancelled. Festivals or not, a day spent in magical Muskoka is never wasted.

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LOCAL GRADUATES

Off to medical school Young humanitarian Erin Sade on her work in Holocaust education by Julia Mastroianni

REPORT CARD STUDENT:

Erin Sade GRADUATED:

Havergal College, 2020 BEST SUBJECT:

Chemistry

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Medical school student

Sade is a 2020 recipient of the Diana Award

When Erin Sade was 12 years old, she decided to dedicate her bat mitzvah to Lily Friedman, a young girl who died in the Holocaust and wasn’t able to have her own bat mitzvah. This gesture paved the way for Sade to spend her teen years advocating for Holocaust education for young people, and her work ultimately resulted in her receiving the 2020 Diana Award, which honours young people for their humanitarian efforts. “When my mom told me I received [the award], I was in complete shock because it’s an international award, and I never thought I would actually receive

“I was in complete

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shock because it’s an international award.”

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it,” says Sade of the accolade named after the late Diana, Princess of Wales and the highest recognition for a young humanitarian. Sade says she owes the award to Project Give Back, a Toronto organization that encourages compassion and awareness in elementary school students. It was through this project that Sade learned about the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem Twinning Program, which encouraged her to dedicate her bat mitzvah to a Holocaust victim. “I learned that a lot of people who were my age, which was 11 or 12 at the time, had never even heard about the Holocaust and didn’t see how it was relevant to

their own lives,” says Sade. Sade took those ideas with her into her years at Havergal College where she would invite Holocast survivors to speak at the school. She then expanded her work to invite these survivors to speak in schools across the GTA, as well as spreading awareness of the twinning program. At each talk she organized, she brought booklets, each with the name of a person who experienced the Holocaust and a bit about their story, along with a QR code at the back that students could scan with their phone to see if the person had lived or died. “I feel like what students had learned in classes, they learned the general story, they learned what happened and the numbers,” Sade says. “But to look at this single person and know this person was actually real and they didn't make it, really got through.” In 2016, Sade’s work was recognized with a national award, presented by Prime Minister Trudeau: the Cantor Kraus Catalyst for Change Award, given to individuals showing dedication to Holocaust education. Now, with the Diana Award under her belt, she has graduated from Havergal College and is planning on going off to medical school in the U.K. in September at the University of Central Lancashire. Sade says young people looking to give back should pick a cause they really care about. “Don’t just pick something random because you think it’ll look good on a resumé. You have to be really passionate to actually make a difference.”


The link between race and environmental risk Protecting people from pollution Diversity is strength. That’s true in nature and human affairs. But recent painful events have shown society has yet to grasp this. The appalling deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Toronto’s Regis Korchinski-Paquet, Chantel Moore from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and many others — all at the hands of those tasked to serve and protect — have ignited awareness of the intense, often violent racial discrimination that continues to oppress Black and Indigenous people and people of colour in Canada and the U.S. The overwhelming call to end race-based discrimination demands we take action. This needs to include an examination of how environmental harm disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and marginalized communities. Canada’s main pollutionprevention law, the 269-page Canadian Environmental Protection Act, doesn’t include one mention of environmental justice, human rights or vulnerable populations. Yet, in urban areas, 25 per cent of the lowest socio-economic status neighbourhoods are within a kilometre of a major polluting industrial facility compared to just seven per cent of the wealthiest. About 40 per cent of Canada’s petrochemical industry operates within a few kilometres of Sarnia and the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, exposing community

members to a range of harmful pollutants. Inuit in Canada’s North are at greater risk of economic losses and poor health as a result of climate change, with rapid Arctic warming jeopardizing hunting and many other activities. Marginalized communities can also be more susceptible to insidious toxic exposures. For example, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, even at low levels, can interfere with hormone functioning. We’re all exposed to them in myriad ways, from food pesticide residues and personalcare product ingredients to textile treatments, product packaging and industrial air pollution. According to an article in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, American researchers identified higher exposure levels in ethnic minorities and a corresponding higher disease burden. They hypothesize that cultural behaviours, consumption patterns and proximity of industrial facilities and waste sites could contribute to these disparities. These are just a few examples. Unresponsive environmental policy makers systematically result in concentration of pollution risks — and inadequate access to environmental benefits — in disadvantaged Canadian communities. This year, MP Lenore Zann introduced Bill C-230, the National Strategy to Redress Environmental Racism Act. It

begins by recognizing that “a disproportionate number of people who live in environmentally hazardous areas are members of an Indigenous or racialized community.” The bill would require the environment minister to examine the link between race, socio-economic status and environmental risk, develop a strategy to redress environmental racism and report regularly on progress. Canada should recognize the human right to a healthy environment in law, as most countries do, and legislate requirements to protect vulnerable communities from pollution and toxic substances. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development recommends a human rights impact assessment in its Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct for corporations operating abroad. Last year the UN Human Rights Council adopted guiding principles for human rights impact assessment for economic reform policies. A parallel process for environmental regulation could ensure everyone benefits from environmental protection measures. In their mandate letters, Canada’s ministers of health and environment were tasked with “better [protecting] people and the environment from toxins and other pollution, including by strengthening the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.” In 2020, strengthening environmental legislation must incorporate human rights. A human rights lens would remove a blind spot and hard-wire into the decision-making process a commitment to ensuring a healthy environment for all. It would help prevent environmental racism, while MP Zann’s bill aims to redress harm already done. The unequal effects of environmental harm must be part of the reflection on systemic racism. But more is needed. Integrating a human rights lens into environmental decisionmaking is long overdue.

For Sale: 128 Hazelton Avenue Suite 502 A Collection of only 17 suites This is your chance to own the last of its kind in the Yorkville neighbourhood. Suite 502 is a 3 Bedroom, 4 Bathroom custom suite spanning 3,273 square feet and comes complete with family room, dining room, and breakfast area. 2 Parking/1 Locker included. www.128-hazelton-ave-unit-502.com

For Lease: 181 Davenport Road - 2 Bedroom/2 Bathroom

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AUGUST 2020

A petrochemical plant near the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, close to Sarnia

CURRENTS

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DAILY PLANET

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CURRENTS

HOMES

Brian Gluckstein on how to staycation in style this summer Five tricks to make your summer vacation feel just as fun as a trip abroad

Make it about indulgence

Take advantage of all that extra “me time” and make a point of indulging by pampering yourself. Set yourself up for days of relaxation with hydrating face

with the meal. Staying home doesn’t mean you can’t experience something new. Swap decor for a fresh look

© Hudson's Bay

This summer, instead of vacationing or visiting friends and family abroad, many of us will be spending our time in the comfort of our home — a “staycation,” as one might call it. And although it may not exactly be the summer getaway we envisioned for ourselves, there’s no reason it can’t be incredibly relaxing and enjoyable. Actually, without the detailed itineraries that often come along with meticulously planned vacations abroad, spending your vacation at home could mean an opportunity to truly unwind. The key to a satisfying staycation is in making your time at home feel special and absolutely nothing like your usual routine. Here are my tips for making your staycation one for the books.

Lounge in the backyard as if you're at the beach

masks, bath salts, scented candles and anything else you love to have on hand for a soak in the tub or a skin care ritual. Since you won’t be investing in an expensive trip, you can gather a few little luxuries to bring you some joy at home. Invest in fluffy bath towels or a white robe to feel like you’re staying at an expensive hotel.

Experiment with new flavours

Test out new recipes for dinner each night, order takeout from a locale you’ve always wanted to visit or relive memories of one of your all-time favourite trip’s cuisines. Have fun accenting the table with decor inspired by the location the food is from and make a signature drink to go along

A few simple decor changes could help trick your mind into thinking you’re somewhere other than home. Swap out your bedding for something summery and light — like French linen or a fresh floral pattern on silky lyocell — and rearrange the decor for a new look and feel. If you’ve been dreaming of a new piece of furniture for your space, it could be a good idea to divert that vacation money and invest in something new that you can enjoy during your time off. At least you know you’ll be home for the delivery!

rides, gardening or redecorating. It’s also the perfect time to consider taking up a new hobby, if there’s something you’ve been meaning to try for a few years but haven’t quite gotten around to yet. Lounge outdoors

If you’re used to lounging at the beach or on a terrace on vacation, why not do the same in your own backyard? Enjoy breakfast on the patio with the morning paper, a picnic on the grass, or cool off with an afternoon drink on a comfortable lounge set. Soak in the beautiful weather and spend as much time as possible outside, just as you normally would on vacation.

Take a break from technology

Do as you normally would on vacation and take a break from your usual screen time. Binging on movies and series can be fun, but make a point of taking time for those tech-free activities like reading great books, going on bike

DANIEL PUSTIL

BRIAN GLUCKSTEIN

Catch Brian Gluckstein on Cityline, where he is a regular guest expert, and shop his collection, GlucksteinHome, at Hudson’s Bay.

TOP 1% REALTOR IN TORONTO Dollar Sales

Salesperson, Vice-President, Partner

Office: 416.944.1818 | 192 Davenport Road | Direct: 416.565.4001 | dpustil@trebnet.com

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SO

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USED ME...6’ APART OF COURSE.

133 Ellsworth Avenue

Prime Lower Village!

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*Represented both seller and buyer

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Can't get into the coveted Wychwood Community? The search has ended. This beauty boasts over 2,000 total sq ft of living at its finest. Open concept layout, hardwood floors, chef's kitchen, gas fireplace, enclosed mudroom, 3 bedrooms & a tandem, finished lower level with kitchen and 4piece bathroom, professionally landscaped backyard and oh did we mention the carport for 2 cars?! Literally 28 steps to the Wychwood Barns! Walk to best parks, schools & shopping!!

Magnificent home situated on a 50' x 138' professionally landscaped lot. Over 5,500 square ft of family living on four floors. The epitome of classic FOREST HILL at its finest.

The Hits Keep Coming Stay Tuned


HOW THEY MET

CURRENTS SPRING + SUMMER

How Breakfast Television reporter Stephanie Henry met her match when she was just 15 Stephanie Henry is part of many Torontonians’ morning routines as the traffic reporter on Breakfast Television. She’s also a reporter and producer on CityNews Toronto and 680 News, and recently she’s been working as a producer on the #CitylineReal on Race YouTube series with Cityline host Tracy Moore. Here she shares how she met her fiancé Brydon Hargreaves when they were just teens. How they met

Brydon and I met in high school. How often do you hear that story any more? We met in Grade 9, so we were about 15 years old. I had the wildest crush on him but was far too awkward to do anything about it. The following year, Brydon moved away, and we kept in touch over the years. Once I started my second year at York University, Brydon was living nearby, and we decided it would be a good time to reconnect and hang out. After about two days of hanging out, we were like, “Let’s just do this!” That was in 2012. The first date

We went to the CNE. We spent

the day going on rides, eating weird food — weird food definitely brings you closer together. We sat at the dock and talked and then we watched some live entertainment. There were piggyback rides, ice cream treats and prizes won. It was definitely a cliché date but for all the right reasons. At the end of our date, it

“I had the wildest crush on him but was far too awkward to do anything about it.” was time to say goodbye. We did the awkward dance around how to say goodbye, and Bry gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek. The proposal

Brydon and I got engaged this year on Feb. 7. Brydon had planned to take me out to dinner that evening and then take me to our favourite spot, along the lakeshore. This was all under the

50% OFF SALE

*

JACADITORONTO

Leonard Wise

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Bayview Village Shopping Centre • 416 733 1717

*Excludes Nursery + Toys + New Fall & Winter Collection

Award-winning, best-selling author of 8 books published in Canada is now available to help you

WRITE YOUR MEMOIRS

leonardwise@yahoo.com 416.570.9596

Balancing work and love

I think that communication is important on both sides when it comes to balancing your career or even your workday with time for each other. We make sure to carve out time daily, and we really enjoy going on dates and experiencing new things together! Shared interests

I love watching TV and I love watching movies, even if I do fall asleep as soon as we hit play from time to time. Brydon loves football. He used to play while in school, and before the pandemic he would play for a league in Scarborough throughout the year. I enjoy being a loyal football fiancée and go cheer him on when he plays! Secret of success

Communication, compromise, respect, laughter, understanding and space. That last one might throw people off, but I love space. I love me time and so does my fiancé. I think it’s important for both parties in any relationship to make space for self-love and selfcare and also to keep relationships alive and well with your friends and family. Have your separate lives, that you share with one another from time to time even though you share a full life together.

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AUGUST 2020

From a CNE first date to a 2020 proposal

UP TO

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Brydon Hargreaves and Stephanie Henry began dating in 2012

guise that he had missed me, since I was away on vacation for the last 10 days. However, my flight home was three hours delayed, so when he picked me up from the airport we had missed our reservation and it was about 11 p.m. at night. I looked a mess, as you always do after a vacation, and didn’t feel like doing a thing. Brydon insisted that he wanted a late night snack, so we ended up going out to get food, and then he said he wanted to show me something at our old high school. I had no idea what was going on. We were looking around for this thing. He couldn’t find it and I started walking back to the car because it was cold — especially since I just arrived back from Jamaica. When I started walking back he yelled, “Found it!” and when I turned around, he was down on one knee with a beautiful sparkly ring! He said, “This is where we met and where you fell in love with me first, so I wanted to bring you back here. Will you marry me?” Of course I said yes!

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CURRENTS

BOOKS

of first love never leaves us and how the chance to replay painful moments that shape our lives offers us healing and closure. offers us healing and closure.

DRIVEWAYS | WALKWAYS | PATIOS LANDSCAPE DESIGN ASPHALT | I N T E R L O C K | CONCRETE

Dare to Lead, Brene Brown

SUMME SPECIALR SA VE THE TAX!

‘Total Freedom’ is Kathleen Edwards' first album since 2012

WHAT KIND OF ASPHALT SHOULD I BE USING?

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There are 3 main types of asphalt: HL8, HL3 and HL3A. HL8 is mostly used for commercial work. However, there are many homeowners who choose this as a base when installing a two layer driveway. It is a very coarse mix, but it provides a great foundation for a long lasting driveway. HL3 is a top layer asphalt mix and is often used on city roads and long country driveways. The mix is coarse and gravel stones are predominant. HL3A is a much smoother mix and that’s why most homeowners will choose it over HL3. It is more aesthetically appealing.

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Five great summer reads from Kathleen Edwards Acclaimed musician’s new album out Aug. 14 by Ron Johnson At long last, acclaimed Canadian singer and songwriter Kathleen Edwards has returned from what she calls a “working sabbatical.” Her new album Total Freedom is set for release Aug. 14 and her new single “Options Open” is out now. The new album is her first since 2012’s Voyageur, after which she announced a break from the music biz and opened Quitters Coffee in the small town of Stittsville, Ont. “I had no desire to write, no desire to play,” she says, of the time.“It allowed me all the time and space I needed to even just enjoy listening to music again.” On the new album, Edwards revisits past relationships from a new perspective, one of resilience and optimism. “I don’t want to write songs that are going to keep me in a dark place for two years,” she says. Edwards, a five-time Juno Award nominee, offered her list of five great books to read this summer. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong

In December, I was flying home from Nashville having just finished my new album the night before and stumbled into the

airport bookshop. I purchased this book on a whim and not 20 minutes later received a text from a close friend in Toronto, saying, "You have to read this book. I just finished reading it. It's beautiful and devastating.” It’s the story of a Vietnamese boy and his immigrant family who come to the U.S., a raw and tragic story of coming of age, beautifully written from a poet-turned novelist. It served as a wonderful cultural thread for my overseas trip over the winter to see my brother and his family living in Vientiane, Laos, and our travels into Hanoi and some southern Vietnamese towns. It gave context to the human cost of Vietnam’s difficult history and spoke of the beautiful resilience and fragility of people, scarred by war. The Stationery Shop, Marjan Kamali

This novel is set in Tehran during the brink of the revolution and tells the story of young love. I adored this novel, as it so wonderfully described a prerevolution Iran full of vibrant colour, books, young women thriving intellectually, mentorship, food, culture and how the memory

I know, I know. You’re tired of the Brene Brown fan club culture. But good advice and the work her team does to find sociological research and statistical solutions to human conflicts and misunderstandings, unhappiness and resentments are worth reading about — especially if you're someone's boss or a leader in any capacity. This won’t spoil anything, but her message, "Clear is Kind. Unclear is Unkind," has been my mantra the last five months. It has helped guide some tough choices and conversations I needed to have, personally and professionally. It helped me revisit and reorganize my goals and take ownership of what I wanted to change, to frame how I want to grow as a businesswoman and employer. Fall, Colin McAdam

Full disclosure: I fell in love with this author's brother only months before the COVID shutdown, during which we discovered a social connection from each of our pasts. People and places we both knew were the basis of this work of fiction, and it made this read a page turner of epic proportions. It's dark, set in Ottawa, involves the diplomatic community and a private school I grew up hearing about. For all those reasons, I found it eerily familiar. When you fall into the web of a sociopath in your adult life and wonder how those people go undetected, hidden in their communities, books like these always remind you you never really know someone, especially when they're hiding behind the mask of privilege. Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid

I only just started this book, after hearing her interviewed on CBC radio. This book will put a spotlight directly on our uncomfortable truths regarding racism, especially when talking about the “but I’m not racist!” white do-gooders, who fundamentally don’t see their own missteps. I’ve been told it's got people talking and even yelling, in debating the characters who struggle to overcome an incident involving a demoralizing mischaracterization and racist profiling of young Black women.


FILM

CURRENTS

Come and see what’s happening at Central Eglinton Community Centre!

We remain closed at this time. For virtual programming please visit us online at: Facebook: @centraleglinton Instagram: @centraleglintoncc Twitter: @centraleglinton David Thewlis stars in Atom Egoyan's latest, 'Guest of Honour'

Toronto filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s latest work, Guest of Honour, which premiered at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, will be available on streaming services starting in August. And it came to fruition after a lot of inspiration from Egoyan’s own experiences — from raising rabbits to running a Queen West bar. The film chronicles the journey of a restaurant health inspector in Hamilton whose life unspools following the passing of his wife. Egoyan found the idea of the food inspector to be rich with possibility. “My son was a busboy at a very exclusive French restaurant in uptown Toronto and, you know, came back with these stories of food inspectors, one that was really tormenting the chef and owner,” says Egoyan. “I began to combine that with my own experiences running Camera Bar [on Queen West, Toronto] at the time, and it just felt like this was an interesting job, right? The person who would go from restaurant to restaurant trying to enforce a code, somebody who was a regulator but had such difficulty kind of regulating his own family and his own life.” The inspector is played by

acclaimed actor David Thewlis, who puts in a stirring performance as the food inspector who slowly becomes unhinged trying to put his life back together after his wife dies and his daughter (Toronto actor Laysla De Oliveira), a music teacher, ends up in prison after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a student. The more David Thewlis’s character, Jim, tries to put his life back together and figure out what happened with his daughter, the worse it gets. The unspooling reaches a crescendo when Jim returns to a restaurant that he recently inspected and almost closed down after catching them attempting to butcher and prepare rabbits on site. Upon his return, Jim is treated as the guest of honour and gives a speech reflective of his slow descent into, if not madness, certainly great despair. The performance is stunning, as Egoyan agrees. “It’s an amazing thing, when you conceive of something and then an actor just makes it soar, just infuses it with so much detail and humanity,” he says. “I was just so thankful the whole time that he was doing that with my words — that was a spectacular, amazing

moment.” Rabbits, as Egoyan explains, were a big part of the filmmaker’s childhood, with a nod of appreciation to his past awardwinning pets. “Oh yes, I had rabbits. They went to pet shows, they won prizes. You see some of those ribbons in the movie,” he says. “Those are my rabbits who earned those prizes. And so it was a way of acknowledging their contribution to my life.” The story is told over four different periods of time, and the only constant is De Oliveira’s character, who begins the film with a present-day discussion with a minister over her father’s funeral arrangements. The Toronto actor really broke out, when the film premiered at TIFF this past year, and has since garnered significant buzz for her subsequent work in projects such as Netflix’s Locke and Key. “She has this aura: she’s able to shift to the different sort of characters between. I needed someone who was very expressive to play Veronica,” Egoyan says. “It’s almost like you’re watching three different versions of the same person. And I’ve been really happy to see her career take off. It's been amazing.”

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Filmmaker Atom Egoyan and his award-winning rabbits

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AUGUST HOME DESIGN

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AUGUST 2020

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Food SECTION

some free time on her hands, Didow turned her energy toward this creative endeavour in an effort to show support for local restaurants at a time when they need it most. “It’s been a struggle to see so many restaurants close and so I used this as an opportunity to show the places I love some love,” she said. Each cookie is roughly $12 and Didow is accepting orders via Instagram @whiskedbyalicia.

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Toronto baker Alicia Didow is paying tribute to some of the city’s most wellknown establishments one cookie at a time. Piano Piano, Chubby’s Jamaican, Oretta and the Cocktail Emporium are just some of the beloved businesses featured in her latest series. The 32-year-old baker was working full-time in the hospitality industry before she was laid off at the start of the pandemic. With

AUGUST 2020

Cookies that celebrate Toronto’s dining scene

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OUR MIDSUMMER CAKES GUIDE

TASTE TEST

FOOD

Chef Mark McEwan finds out what bakeries have the best artisanal cakes in town this August. Sweeten up the season with these fresh new flavours — from mango mousse and passion fruit coulis to coconut nectar creations.

WINNER

RUNNER-UP

DUO PATISSERIE

NADÈGE

“This has a great crust!” McEwan said of the Yuco cake with coconut nectar, cheesecake and yuzu mango fruit. “The yuzu flavour really comes through, and the coconut is very natural. The look complements the ingredients well,” he said. 230 Commerce Valley Dr. E., #4, $7.25

PATISSERIE LA CIGOGNE

“This looks like a classic lemon meringue. Very well presented,” McEwan said of the Lily cake. “The lime curd is delicious. Great flavour and texture. The mintsoaked sponge cake is an interesting twist, and the crust carries well (it is quite hard!).” 627 Mt. Pleasant Rd., $7.40

BOMOU “I absolutely love the pistachio mousse,” McEwan said of the Shahzade cake. “The mousse is light and airy — it is extremely delicious. The combination of pistachio and rosewater is classic in Middle Eastern desserts and really tasty.” 1636 Bayview Ave., $8.50

The Dream of China cake, with its strawberry mousse and passion fruit coulis, impressed McEwan. “Love the mini macaron and lovely tempered chocolate,” he said. “The passion fruit and berry work really well together.” 1419 Danforth Ave., $7.50

BAKE CODE

RAHIER

McEwan dubbed the purple layered creation from this North York bakery a fun take on a taro mousse cake. “Nutty and sweet flavours are coming through,” he said. “I can tell this is taro, which has starchiness and more of a vanilla taste. The flavour here is quite delicate.” 4910 Yonge St., $4.70

McEwan enjoyed the Mata Hari cake, with mango and coconut mousse. “The gooseberry is pretty but perhaps misleading as I couldn’t taste this through the cake. It complemented the flavours well, however.” McEwan was particularly fond of the papaya compote and texture. 1586 Bayview Ave., $15.71

AUGUST 2020

THOBORS BOULANGERIE

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McEwan was a big fan of the Pink Blossom cake with raspberry crème brûlée and lemon chantilly from Nadège Patisserie in Rosedale. McEwan called it “creamy yet light” and loved the edible flowers and look of it. “It’s beautifully presented,” McEwan said. The “real citrus flavour and delicious raspberry centre” wowed McEwan, who went on to add that, “the nuts and candied lemon also provide a nice texture.” 1099 Yonge St., $8.75

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POST CITY X DIAMOND & DIAMOND

How we balance work, life and family in the summer Tips from Jeremy Diamond and Sandra Zisckind of Diamond & Diamond lawyers

JEREMY DIAMOND Jeremy Diamond is a lawyer who was called to the Bar in 2008 and practices in the areas of Plaintiff personal injury litigation in Toronto.

SANDRA ZISCKIND

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Sandra Zisckind is a lawyer who was called to the Bar in 2003 and practices in the area of Plaintiff personal injury litigation in Toronto

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This summer, spend your time to the fullest by improving the way in which you balance your work life with your personal life. Diamond and Diamond Lawyers is Canada's leading personal injury law firm and its founders, husband and wife team, Jeremy Diamond and Sandra Ziskind, value work-life balance — especially throughout the summer months. Here, they share their tips that help their team of 40+ lawyers and sozens of support staff prioritize family time. This is especially important now, while the majority of their employees continue to work from home: Jeremy Diamond suggests that "with travel being limited in this current environment, take some extra time and investment in your outdoor space so it can be enjoyed

to the fullest this summer!" Whether this means new patio furniture or even a BBQ, spend a little money and you'll get the most out of your outdoor spaces while the weather is warm. If you invest in a BBQ, take the time to make cooking on it a family activity. Instead of working out by yourself, why not trade it for an active family activity? A family hike or a bike ride is a great alternative to heading to the gym by yourself. Sandra Ziskind says, "my husband and I find that we're more determined when we work out together and it turns into a bit of healthy competition." Changing the way you work is an essential part of summer. Finding ways to work outside can help you enjoy the weather and get work

done. A mesh screen covering paired with an umbrella can provide you with the perfect means of using your laptop out in the sun. Working summer hours when working from home can help you to retain structure in your working day but also give you the time you need to enjoy the summer weather. Respect your time off and structure your day in a way that won't impede on the time you have dedicated to spending with your family. Dogs can change the way you live your life! "Ruby has been a great addition to our family this year and has been an incredible catalyst for getting us all outside together" shares Sandra Ziskind. "Dogs can provide hours of exercise and entertainment for the whole family; do your research and

think long-term - get a breed that suits your family's lifestyle and plans; fostering a dog is a great way to enjoy a pet without a longterm commitment." Jeremy Diamond also advises taking a staycation. "With the current state of travel and uncertainty in Canada, vacation time can be used to really enjoy uninterrupted quality time at home as a family" he shares. Staycations are a great way to tackle long-neglected home projects like setting up the garden or building that porch." However you decide to spend your summer, make sure that you don't blur the lines between work and family and that you assign each of these areas of your life with the time and respect that they deserve.


RESTAURANT NEWS

The eatery takes back its old post on Dupont Anthony Rose has revived his restaurant Big Crow, which reopened last month for takeout and patio dining. The restaurateur and chef had previously shut down Big Crow and adjoining restaurant Rose and Sons last fall to make way for a new concept called the Grand Elvis. The Grand Elvis opened in December 2019 to widespread positive reviews. The restaurant became known for its Brindle Room banquet burger, which was developed with chef Jeremy Spector of New York’s Brindle Room, a restaurant famed for its own list-topping burger.

The Grand Elvis has been quiet over the past few months, however, after temporarily closing in mid-March when COVID hit. “Elvis was only three months old when the [coronavirus] went down. Unfortunately it never had a chance to sing and be its thing,” Rose tells Post City. “I loved it so much but felt it wasn’t what we needed now.” In his monthly newsletter, Rose describes finding himself turning to comfort foods when cooking at home with his son amid the pandemic. “I was cooking what I love, what my mother cooked when I was a kid,” Rose writes.

— Jessica Huras

Aunty Lucy’s finds a new home in Toronto The Parkdale burger joint was forced to relocate after a rent dispute

Aunty Lucy’s owner Chieff Bosompra

Popular burger joint Aunty Lucy’s Burgers has found a new home inside the Annex Hotel. The takeout spot was operating out of Duggan’s Brewery in Parkdale for June but had a rent dispute that led to its closing. “We are excited to have a new home,” says owner Chieff Bosompra. “We have a ton of love for Parkdale, and it will be cool to explore another part of the city and bring our burgers and energy to the Annex. We as a team are very much looking forward to it.” The Annex Hotel team decided to reach out to Bosompra when they heard that Aunty Lucy’s Burgers was in need of a new home. Bosompra and the Annex Hotel team have connected in the past, as he has run events in the hotel for his boutique marketing company, Undisposable. “I viewed a number of locations that day and

by Nikki Gill

decided that the Annex Hotel was the best fit,” he says. Fans will be relieved to know all their menu favourites will still be available, but there are some new additions to the menu that the team has been cooking up. “Halal beef and chicken is now available, and gluten-free buns are also now available,” says Bosompra. “In the near future we want to make a few Ghanaian dishes that will complement our current menu, so stay tuned for that.” The new location will be open from Wednesday to Sunday from 3 to 11 p.m., and orders can be made on Uber Eats or by pickup. “You can come to the front of the Annex Hotel and there’s a window you can order from and pay on site. We didn’t previously offer this,” says Bosompra.

Chef Hemant Bhagwani has opened a new restaurant in the Leaside neighbourhood of Toronto. The gourmet food concept, Egg Bird, is chef Hemant Bhagwani’s latest addition to the Bayview strip south of Eglinton Avenue (1595 Bayview Ave.). The casual restaurant has a comfortfood vibe, with indoor booths and a small outdoor patio, and specializes in burgers, fried chicken, Belgian frites, frozen custard and shakes. Bhagwani is no stranger to the neighbourhood, having opened his first restaurant, Amaya, in the area in 2007 and five more restaurants on Bayview throughout his career. Bhagwani currently owns and operates Goa Indian Farm Kitchen and the Burmese eatery Popa — both of which are located inside Bayview Village and are currently open for takeout. Egg Bird is Bhagwani’s vision for a traditional neighbourhood brunch spot that includes his love of burgers. All of Egg Bird’s beef burgers are made with 100 per cent brisket from the Cumbrae’s butcher shop nearby and topped with a cage-free egg. Shakes come in a variety of delicious combinations ranging from blackberry cheesecake to vanilla coconut (topped with a piece of cake as well as coconut shavings). Egg Bird also offers frozen custard in vanilla or chocolate. Bhagwani has recruited Kevin Diaz, a former chef at Popa, to run daily operations at the new neighbourhood spot. Diaz’s fried chicken brand, Chubb’s, will be dishing up all of the eatery’s fried chicken offerings. The fried chicken here is not just the southern United States variety popularized by an elderly gentleman in a white suit with a penchant for licking his fingers. Egg Bird’s fried chicken includes varieties from around the world including such locales as Japan and Mumbai. “Fried chicken is one of those foods that everyone loves, and every culture has their own take on it. We have an ambitious goal of having the best fried chicken in Toronto,” says Diaz. But the restaurant has other vegan, vegetarian and halal options too. Diners can try the eatery’s vegan crispy cauliflower burger paired with a spicy slaw or the halal chicken sandwich with a pineapple pepper sauce and slaw. The restaurant celebrated its grand opening on July 12 and is currently open for patio eats. Egg Bird’s menu will also be available for takeout or delivery through Uber Eats, and the restaurant will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. — Ron Johnson

AUGUST 2020

Chef Anthony Rose’s Annex BBQ joint Big Crow is a go

Hemant Bhagwani opens his new restaurant Egg Bird in Leaside

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Big Crow’s grilled verscht with apricot jam and mustard

According to the newsletter, this experience helped him to embrace his nickname as “the king of comfort food” and inspired his decision to bring back Big Crow. “So here we are. Big Crow is back. It is exactly the same as it used to be. The menu is familiar and delicious, and it is all mine,” Rose writes. As promised, the reincarnated Big Crow menu is packed with fan favourites, including poke nachos and smoked, grilled baby back ribs, as well as the grilled verscht with apricot jam and mustard that Rose recently dubbed “one of his greatest inventions of all time.” “Big Crow just seemed right for the moment. Nostalgic and deliciousness and the sweet flavour of Canadian BBQ,” Rose tells Post City. “It was a hard decision to let the King die, but to tell you the truth, I missed Crow so much.” Diners can order prepared BBQ for curbside pickups or dine-in on the restaurant’s small patio, with reservations made through email. But Big Crow has also added the option to order dishes cooked and ready to reheat at home or raw and seasoned for home grilling. According to Rose, Big Crow is here to stay, even after patio season ends. “Good news is that we completely made Crow ready for the winter, so it’ll be so toasty all year long,” Rose adds. Some of Rose’s other restaurants, Fat Pasha, Fet Zun and Madame Boeuf, continue to offer takeout and patio eats. Schmaltz Appetizing is open for curbside pickup, while Gordy Smiles on Ossington remains closed for the time being. In his newsletter, Rose hints that the return of Big Crow could be a precursor to the resurrection of his other Dupont Street restaurant Rose and Sons as well. “Who knows, we might even bring back the true Phoenix rising from the ashes: Rose and Sons. Stay tuned,” he adds.

FOOD

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RESTAURANT NEWS

The takeout concept Don Pollo is operating out of the chef’s Mexican restaurant Quetzal by Jessica Huras Part of the popular Mexican restaurant Quetzal has been transformed into Don Pollo, specializing in wood-fired chicken dishes. The Little Italy restaurant had been temporarily closed since mid-March amid the pandemic, with chef-owner Grant van Gameren opting not to offer takeout when restaurant dining rooms were forced to suspend service. The chef is now using the Quetzal space to run a new takeout concept called Don Pollo, which debuted on July 11. The restaurant

specializes in Sinaloa-style grilled chicken, which is brined and slow cooked over a wood-fire grill. Chicken is available by the piece, the whole bird or on sandwiches. “We’ve worked the last few months to create some insanely good and messy as hell hot chicken marinated in a secret concoction alongside a line-up of sides,” reads the announcement on Don Pollo’s social media. Sides include roasted potatoes seasoned with adobo, shredded jicama slaw with a creamy lime sauce and charred pineapple with

Critically acclaimed restaurant Brothers closes Unable to maintain social distancing, the small Yorkville haunt calls it quits Celebrated Yorkville restaurant Brothers Food & Wine closed its doors for good last month. The tiny restaurant located above Bay Station has received consistently glowing reviews since opening in 2016, becoming known for its unfussy but sublime seasonal menus. “We have decided to close the restaurant. With the temporary closure this spring, it was our intention to ride the waves of uncertainty with the hope that we would get back to regular service as soon as possible,” reads a post by the owners via social media. After dining rooms were forced to close in March, Brothers began offering set menu takeout dinners in late May. Typically featuring four courses and available only on Saturday nights, the takeout meals sold out quickly each week. With patios reopening in Toronto and indoor dining resuming across the rest of the

province on July 17, space seems to be key to a restaurant’s safety and success in the world of post-COVID dining. Maintaining the necessary two metres between tables makes it impossible for a close-quarters restaurant like Brothers to operate the same way it once did. “Brothers was purposefully built as a small and intimate space,” reads the post. “This contradicts any reasonable expectations of moving forward given the guidelines for a safe reopening.” The post goes on to thank Brothers’ staff and diners, adding that the team plans to continue sharing their vision for quality food and hospitality. “We have every intention of recommitting to this work and feel we have a lot left to contribute,” finishes the post. “Thanks for everything, see you down the road.” — JH

A tasting menu at Brothers

The team behind the Vegandale Festival is back with a socially distanced twist. The new vegan patio series will begin on Aug. 8 at the Grand Bizarre at Exhibition Place for four consecutive weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and includes seated lunch or dinner options. The Vegandale Festival is a summer festival focusing on vegan food and products cultivated from the city’s top vendors. The festival usually draws thousands of people every summer, but sadly this year’s event has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Our festival format is simply not possible amid the current climate, and it’s important to us that we uphold the standard of our unparalleled festival experience,” reads a post on the Vegandale Festival’s Instagram. Instead, the vegan patio series will work to fill the void at Exhibition Place, home to the city’s largest rooftop space at 64,000 square feet with three infinity pools and various private cabanas. Attendees will have access to the infinity pools with the city’s COVID-19 outdoor pool guidelines in place. Those current restrictions include providing a name and contact information, answering various COVID-19 questions and wearing a single-use wrist band. Vegandale’s patio series includes access to food from Fat Choi, Ital Vital, Bar Vegandale and Planta. It also includes bottle service, a curated selection of artwork, pool access, hip hop and top 40 music by local DJs and a frozen dessert bar provided by Daiya. COVID-19 precautions are in place, according to the event’s website, including staff with masks, daily cleaning of patio furniture, contactless payment, online menus and socially distanced (six-feet-apart) tables. Seating times include an 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. brunch option or a 4 to 8 p.m. dinner option. Tickets are on sale now and range from $35 to $400 depending on the size of each group and whether or not bottle service is included. Diners can opt for the brunch or supper packages, and there is a 19+ age restriction when entering the venue, so keep that in mind when booking. The seated patio series will take place rain or shine, with coverings set up for every table and cabana across the venue. Additional information about the new summer series can be found online at www.vegandalesummer.com, and there are also regular updates on the festival’s various social feeds. — Harriette Halepis

AUGUST 2020

Chef Grant van Gameren opens wood-fired chicken joint

New vegan rooftop series with three infinity pools starts this month

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Don Pollo’s slow-roasted, Sinaloa-style chicken

Trinidad pepper, coriander and lime. Van Gameren spoke about the new restaurant in an interview in May, saying that Don Pollo is inspired by the roadside grilled chicken served in places like Mexico and South and Central America. He added that this concept was a way to make use of Quetzal’s unused wood-fire grills. It’s currently unclear whether Quetzal will return when restaurant dining rooms reopen. Over the past few months, the serial restaurateur has pivoted a number of his restaurants in response to the pandemic. In early June, he began offering Detroit-style pizzas in the former Tennessee Tavern space on Queen Street West, as part of a new concept called Gianna’s. Bar Piquette, best known for its laid-back atmosphere and selection of approachable wines, has been operating as a market and bottle shop. The once-shuttered Harry’s Charbroiled is taking to the streets to sling the outpost’s famous burgers after recently unveiling its bright new food truck decked out in yellow. In Kensington, El Rey Mezcal Bar reopened its patio and is also offering takeout. Van Gameren’s vegan Mexican restaurant Rosalinda and Spanish pinxtos spot Bar Raval continue to remain temporarily closed. Although fans of the ever-popular Bar Isabel welcomed the College Street eatery back with open arms after it reopened with patio service July 23. The Spanish restaurant is now serving a pared-down menu of signature dishes and bevvies, on a first-come, firstserved basis. Over in Parkdale, van Gameren’s cocktail bar Pretty Ugly announced its permanent closure in June after a dispute over rent, but there’s hope that the concept may be able to reopen in a new location in the future. Don Pollo is open seven days a week. Delivery is available through Uber Eats, or pickup orders can be made online directly with the restaurant.

FOOD

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The story behind True True

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Following the death of her beloved diner, chef Suzanne Bar reflects on an industry in need of change

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The culinary world is complex — stacked with sweet stories of bringing people together through food but also riddled with deeprooted, unsavoury histories of systemic injustices that continue to poison this industry. As I stand in the wake of the permanent closure of my restaurant True True, I find myself immersed in a profound, bittersweet place of reckoning. This is not just my story, but the story of many BIPOC folks that have and will continue to find themselves displaced. As a child, my sister and I relished watching and learning from my dad how to cook. In particular, making patties together provided us with a safe haven where the methodical process (from mise en place to the chemistry of cooking) gave us order and structure against the sometimes precarious backdrop of our daily lives. The smells, the beautiful ingredients and the indescribable feelings of familiarity and comfort are forever associated with the array of moist, juicy ground beef perfectly spiced with scotch bonnet, minced onions, pinches of garlic, speckles of black pepper and strands of scallion that would all come together with strong, kneading hands and decisive movements to make a Nicey

Patty. Little did I know then that this would be the first of many seeds planted in my soul that would eventually sprout into the trajectories of my life. My dad was also a passionate entrepreneur. He opened a flower shop in the east end of Toronto 50 years ago and instilled that “can do” attitude in me. Despite all the odds being stacked against him as a Black business owner, he made it happen and thrived. Years later, I, armed with the same resolute determination and passion, carved out my place in life, as a chef, entrepreneur and social advocate. These titles are things that fit onto an Instagram profile neatly and succinctly, but it does not even begin to shed light on all of me. Beyond these resumé placeholders, I am a Black woman, a mother, a partner, a leader, a connector, a cheerleader, a disrupter and a fierce ally to justice. All of these shades of me have been integral in getting me to where I needed to get going. But they have also been the causes of some of the biggest hurdles I’ve had to face — particularly as a Black, female chef and entrepreneur. Many budding chefs and entrepreneurs in Toronto (and the world) are faced with the same baseline of challenges: whether it’s finding a desirable spot in


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Chef Suzanne Barr inside True True Diner, prior to its closure

“I’ve had my time to grieve. I am not ashamed nor see the closure of True True as a failure.” pushed out, used and discarded. This has been my reality. On a daily basis, it ranges from biased microagressions to full-blown, blatant, anti-Black racist, misogynistic treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we had temporarily closed True True Diner, as we thoughtfully contemplated how we would evolve the business. After a spell of silence and without consulting with me, my business partners decided to shut down. I had poured so much of myself into this venture. It had become a hub where BIPOC chefs were celebrated, a safe place

first — I believe it’s a recurring pattern of the privileged piggybacking off my Black, female identity. Initially, financial backers or potential collaborators connect with me — often under the guise of allyship. They love the comfort food part. They love the sassy, vibrant energy that I bring. They love all the Black and female parts of me that serve them. But when they see there are so many other aspects that come with who I am at the core, I believe my Blackness becomes an inconvenience. And this is the part where I feel I literally get shut down.

In my moments of despair following the sudden closure of True True, my dad had simple words for me. He told me he was proud and to remember all the shades of me that make me who I am: that I am not defined by the walls and kitchen that make up a restaurant. That everything I will ever need is inside of me. I’ve had my time to grieve. And like so many strong, beautiful brothers and sisters before me, I will not stop. I am only beginning. I am not ashamed nor see the closure of True True as a failure. It was a pit stop on my long journey filled with obstacles, humility, lessons learned and precious relationships. As my father alluded … my truth will never shut down because it lives within me, and I will continue to grow and flourish. And that is something that can never be taken from me. SUZANNE BARR Suzanne Barr is a respected Toronto chef with a flair for Afro Caribbean, soulful comfort food. Her culinary repertoire includes owner of Saturday Dinette; inaugural chef-inresidence at the Gladstone Hotel; resident judge on Food Network Canada’s series ‘Wall of Chefs;’ and partner and executive chef at True True Diner, which permanently closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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AUGUST 2020

where our staff who came from marginalized backgrounds found respect and a sense of family. I intentionally made my restaurant a diner to pay homage to all the civil rights sit-ins that happened in diners across North America and helped shape Black history. And when it really mattered, I feel I had no say. My voice, sweat, blood and tears were dismissed and muted by white privilege. Although this closure is not my

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Toronto where the cost of rent won’t consume all of the meager profits from an already razor-thin profit model; churning out food that will stay relevant in a competitive, crowded space with fickle diners; and balancing impossible work hours with some semblance of a home life. But add to that being part of a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) demographic that has been systemically pushed down,

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FOOD

REVIEW

Clockwise from left: Tarragon panna cotta, the Tamarack Farms lamb duo and pain au lait

Takeout review: Artful plating by Auberge avec Canoe mashup

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The two restaurants team up for this fancy menu

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by Jessica Huras

Auberge avec Canoe is a collaboration between two transfer the food to another dish. well-known Toronto restaurants: Auberge du Auberge avec Canoe brings together Canoe’s Pommier and Canoe. The joint effort sees Canoe’s emphasis on local ingredients with Auberge’s French chef Ron McKinlay and Auberge’s chef Tim Schulte culinary approach. Although the tasting menu teaming up to create a multi-course tasting menu that changes each week, you can expect homegrown changes each week. ingredients prepared with traditional European Both restaurants are owned by Oliver & Bonacini techniques. Hospitality, with the new partnership between the two Most meals begin with pain au lait, which comes serving as a way to keep both teams working amid the with a savoury fennel pork butter and briney fennel pandemic. Initially launched for takeout only, the piccalilli. tasting menu can now also be ordered on Auberge Highlights from a recent menu included the green du Pommier’s pretty garden terrace, which bean salad, which saw the punchy flavour of a recently began serving dine-in guests lobster vinaigrette softened by sweet green again when Toronto moved into Stage strawberries. 2 of reopening a few weeks ago. The main was the Tamarack Farms BON APPÉTIT We sampled the takeout version of lamb duo with ratatouille ragout, herb A punchy lobster the tasting menu, which sees a fivepolenta, amaranth and ras el hanout vinaigrette made the course meal packaged up to reheat jus. The lamb was tender with a nice green bean salad and enjoy at home. Available on crispy exterior. The polenta, too, had particularly pleasing. Fridays and Saturdays only, the tasting just the right amount of bite. menu can be pre-ordered online (from Of course, takeout can never fully either restaurant’s site) and picked up at replicate the experience of dining at a Auberge du Pommier. There’s also the option restaurant, but Auberge avec Canoe’s heat-atto order à la carte dishes, which are available from home menu manages to sidestep the soggy, lukewarm Thursday to Saturday. food experiences you might have had in the past with takeout. The textures are remarkably just right once The Food everything is assembled, and the teams have also Priced at $70 per person for five courses, the tasting replicated the artful plating that both restaurants are menu comes packaged in biodegradable containers. known for. The dishes are fully prepared, with a small amount of assembling and reheating required to get everything The Drinks ready at home. There’s an extensive selection of sparkling, white, rose The takeout package includes a traditional menu and red wines that you can order for pickup with your outlining the ingredients in each dish, as well as a meal. Bottles are mainly French and Italian plus plenty secondary menu with preparation instructions. All of of local options from wineries like Tawse and Rosehall the containers are lettered and numbered, making it Run. easy to follow along with the steps of putting your Prices range from about $20 to $200 for full bottles, meal together. The containers are also oven-safe, so but Auberge avec Canoe also offers a sizable selection you can pop them in the oven without needing to of half bottles.


Kids SECTION

burgers were set to appear in front of the House of Commons finance committee on July 28 to answer questions about their partnership with the Liberal government on a $900 million student grant program. The partnership is said to be a conflict of interest for Trudeau as his family members have received speaking fees from WE, and Morneau’s daughter works for the charity.

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Thornhillers Marc and Craig Kielburger co-founded Free The Children, now known as the WE Charity, back in 1995 when they were just teenagers. Fastforward 25 years, and the pair have been drawn into a federal scandal that has the Conservative Party leader, Andrew Scheer, calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau to step down. The Kiel-

AUGUST 2020

The federal government scandal

53


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Located in Leaside United Church Established 1961

Goodbye, Leaside. After 59 wonderful years, Mrs. Park’s is closing. Thank you to the generations of families who have been through the school. Thank you to all the staff who made Mrs. Park’s a magical place. Thank you to Leaside United Church, the congregation and staff who always supported the school over the years.

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Thank you to Joan Park for her vision, her nurturing, and for entrusting me with her legacy.

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It has been my honour and pleasure to have known you all. See you in the neighbourhood. (Probably more, now that I’m retired!) Mary Dwan King

mrs-parksschool@sympatico.ca

Parenting in the time of COVID reminds me of every time anybody ever told me: “You should do….” with my kids. It was always going to be more work, more trouble, more tiring — and it made me feel guilty. Because there’s always more and better that a parent can do. And that was before COVID. Parenting in the time of COVID is Sisyphean. You push the big rock uphill. Somebody tells you to push harder and better and more. Then the rock falls back down the hill. The pressures on parents are enormous. Had someone told you a year ago that you would be cooking, cleaning, working from home and schooling your kids at home, in isolation, you would have laughed. Sick joke. And now, five months in, it remains overwhelming and interminable. It doesn’t help that wherever we go online parents are bombarded with instructions for ever more elaborate craft projects, backyard kid extravaganzas and how to be a COVID over-achiever and make more sourdough. Add the looming spectre of September and the very real possibility of more virtual school, and it’s enough to make any parent feel both inadequate and pressured.

There seems to be no such thing as good enough parenting right now. Please hop off the not good enough train right now. That train in COVID times is more pernicious than the “not skinny enough” train and the “not rich enough” train. All three belong to the same circle of hell that tells parents that we are to blame for whatever faults, illnesses and misadventures our kids suffer. I’ve bought into that enough times to know how pernicious it is. Please don’t go there. Herewith my 10 commandments of COVID parenting, to help you stay sane: 1. Stop going to websites that tell you to do more creative family activities, unless they are helpful. Otherwise you’ll beat yourself up. 2. Kids who are isolated from their peers are generally unhappy. Know that it’s not your fault. 3. Kids, especially young ones, can’t properly understand why they have to stay socially distant. Yes, you have to nag them. This too is not your fault. Don’t blame yourself. 4. We know adolescents are flocking together, flouting social distancing rules. Don’t ignore that. Don’t lecture them. Convene a

family meeting with a formal, precirculated agenda. Ask everyone in your family — including the little ones — to speak to issues of social distancing. It will help them think out loud and be more thoughtful. You speak too. Be honest about your fears. That will help them be honest with you. 5. Look for those rare and special moments when your kids want to talk, really talk. Ask them what COVID is like for them, what it’s doing to their life. Listen hard, for clues about how to support them more accurately. Listen more than you talk. 6. Play with your kids. This is not the same as creating projects or teaching them stuff. Play is when you follow them pretty much wherever they want to go (barring undue risk) and join them doing whatever they want to do, with a playful mindset. Playing, with neither goal nor agenda, puts money in a kid’s emotional bank. It’s one of the most generous and supportive things we can do with kids. And often turns into fun for us. 7. Ask your kids what they think and feel about the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s on everyone’s radar, including theirs. It will be interesting to hear them. You might learn something. And they will feel respected. 8. When you stress about September, and the terrifying possibility of having to support some virtual school time, give yourself a break. Most kids will not suffer academically if they don’t do all their online schooling. 9. Your own months-long isolation makes parenting harder. Now that restrictions have eased, take advantage of social time to vent about how hard COVID parenting is. You need support for this hard work. 10. The most important commandment of all: Practice compassion and kindness to yourself. You can’t do it all. It’s too much. Give yourself a break. Use mental discipline to interrupt every self-blaming thought and redirect your mind. The mantra is: This is bloody hard and I’m doing enough.

JOANNE KATES

Parenting columnist Joanne Kates is an expert educator in the areas of conflict mediation, self-esteem and anti-bullying, and she is the director of Camp Arowhon in Algonquin Park.


FEATURE

The province is working to address systemic racism in schools and adapting to accommodate COVID-19, as well as updating the math curriculum by Julia Mastroianni School will look a little different in the coming years for students across Ontario, due to some major curriculum changes in response to COVID-19 and international action addressing systemic racism within institutions and beyond. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, school boards have been trying to adapt to online teaching. Now, with the knowledge that the threat of coronavirus will still be present come September, the Ministry of Education said it has advised boards to plan for multiple scenarios. “Conventional delivery with enhanced safety protocols, adapted delivery that may include blended models of in-person and remote learning and full remote learning, the implementation of these scenarios are dependent on health advice at any point in the school year,” wrote Ingrid Anderson, senior media relations coordinator for the Ministry of Education, in an email.

Kristen Clarke, dean of teaching and learning at Bishop Strachan School, says that BSS will be switching its high school students to a semestered schedule rather than full-year courses. “It’s about manageability. Usually students in our school have eight courses in Grade 9 and 10, and then in Grade 11 and 12 maybe seven. That's a lot to carry as a full load throughout the course of the year, so this way we can make sure they have fewer topics to focus on,” she says. Clarke also says the school learned from student responses to online teaching in the spring of this year. “We’re moving into a blended environment where kids will be learning online and face to face, and we noticed that prioritizing positive, descriptive feedback, versus a whole bunch of evaluative grades, was really helpful,” she explains. “It sustained many students when they were experiencing stressors and kept

them above water in many cases.” For those with students in elementary school, be prepared for a revamped math curriculum that will now include coding and financial literacy. “Our government is modernizing our schools, our curriculum, and the delivery of learning, to ensure students are set up to succeed in an increasingly changing world,” Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said according to a press release on July 23. The curriculum changes also mean that students in Grade 3 and 6 will not be taking the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) assessment in the 2020–2021 year, as the ministry works on adjusting the math component of the test to align with the new curriculum. There has also been a push for curriculum changes that better address issues of systemic racism within the school system and more broadly throughout the

country. Since international protests and discussions about racism were sparked after George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police, advocates have been calling for better and earlier education around race and racism within the classroom. In response, the Ontario government has looked at some common practices within the current school system that contribute to racism. “The government recently announced plans to end academic streaming [grouping students by ability] in Grade 9 in response to concerns that the practice has disproportionately affected educational outcomes for Black, Indigenous and low-income students. The government has also proposed a ban on suspending younger, elementary-school students, a practice that also disproportionately affects Black students,” wrote Anderson. They’ve also promised to

AUGUST 2020

How the major events of 2020 are changing education in Ontario in many ways

strengthen sanctions for teachers who make racist remarks or perform racist actions. Although that is a start, Karen Murray, the centrally assigned principal of equity, anti-racism and anti-oppression on the Toronto District School Board, says that the board is still working to do more in terms of the curriculum and the school environment for racialized students. “The intentional work has to happen within the classroom and not in just one specific subject,” she says. “If you’re going to be culturally relevant and responsive, it embeds in all subjects.” She notes that, in her experience, students are more comfortable talking about racism than teachers, and that’s something Murray says the board will have to work on. “What [kids] do is they bring their life into the classroom; they talk about what they see, what they lived through. So it’s the adults that have to push against our own hesitation.” Carl James, a York University professor whose research has focused on the experiences of racialized students in the education system, says bringing those lived experiences of students into the classroom is a necessary step to address some holes in the curriculum. “It [the education system] is very centered on the European experience,” he says. “Teachers must pay attention to the backgrounds of their students, whether that’s race or gender or where the students come from, in order to prepare and effectively reach their students.” Murray says she’s seen a positive response from many teachers so far. “More educators are willing to really begin to have those conversations in their classrooms. Before the year ended, you could see that, heightened requests to help support teaching and talking about race and racism as a result of the things kids are seeing in the news.” But the curriculum is provincially mandated, meaning Murray has to work within the “wiggle room” to incorporate more diverse content. The provincial government has yet to make any changes to the curriculum to directly add anti-racist requirements, though the Ministry of Education has said its proposing anti-racism and antidiscrimination training by the end of 2020. 55 | POST |

Clockwise from left: Karen Murray from the TDSB, Kristen Clarke from Bishop Strachan School and Carl James from York University

KIDS


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2020 PRIVATE EDUCATION GUIDE The Toronto Prep School is an independent, inde ependent, co-educational, univ university versity preparat preparatory ory school for discerning students and parents. discerning

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Toronto Prep School A combined 60 years of teaching experience has prompted Steve and Fouli Tsimikalis to create an environment that promotes learning, develops leadership and awakens social consciousness through the employment of energetic and hand-picked experienced faculty and staff. Toronto Prep offers a rigorous academic curriculum with the opportunity for students to participate in a variety of school clubs and athletics. Each student will receive a MacBook Pro and a full membership to GoodLife Fitness, to promote and sustain effectuality in mind and body. Steve and Fouli have determined that it truly takes a village to raise a child. “A faculty working closely with parents/ guardians, smaller classes, supervised extra help before and after school and on Saturdays help students reach their personal potential for success,” notes Fouli. Their passion for teaching is evident: “The opportunity to contribute to the development of young men and women is a privilege,” says Steve.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 2009 GRADES: 7-12 ENROLMENT: 400 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: $27,250

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WillowWood School

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A co-ed independent school for diverse learners, WillowWood was founded in 1980 based on the core value that all students have a right to learn with dignity, that a warm and nurturing school can serve as a foundation for remarkable lives and that it is the whole person who matters. We have a long tradition of delivering targeted, personal education that considers each student's needs, inclinations and strengths. This individualized approach ensures that students are able to discover and embrace their strengths, address their weaknesses, and maintain their dignity. Classes are small, the atmosphere is warm, and the pedagogical approach is holistic. Our effective teaching strategies, enthusiastic staff members, innovative programs and friendly environment bring out the best in students, build self-confidence and inspire a love of learning. If your family is seeking a new style of school with a strong history of inspiring students, we’d love to meet you. Visit www.willowwoodschool for more information and to set up an online interview and virtual tour.

ENROLMENT: ### AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: ## TUITION: $##### SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1980 GRADES: Foundation 1-2, 3-12 ENROLMENT: 250 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 7:1 TUITION: Approx. $23,000


The Giles School Why Giles? The Giles School has over 30,000 square feet for 110 students. Our school is a deliberately small school that fosters an inclusive, innovative and international education. We are primed to open with plenty of space to implement rigorous safeguards at the same time as offering a strong academic program. We aim to make our students "world ready" - that is, with international, innovative and inclusive mindsets! We believe students can make incredible contributions to their school,

work, and family lives. When you invest in Giles, your child has access to a force of talented teachers; small classes (10-15 students maximum in each class); a solid bilingual education in French and English; deep exposure to Mandarin and an introduction to Spanish, Arabic and Russian languages. By offering the six official languages of the UN, our students gain a global understanding of culture and industry.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1989 GRADES: Pre-K to Gr. 8

ENROLMENT: 110-120 students STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 10:1 TUITION: $13,300 - $23,400

Imagine a Child…

Learning to be WORLD READY: International, Innovative, & Inclusive

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Now imagine this is your child

Join us at the Giles School for a personal tour that promises to “awaken your mind, quicken your spirit and stir your heart!” Call us at 416-446-0825 • www.gilesschool.ca 80 Scarsdale Rd. (near York Mills & Leslie)

Robbins Hebrew Academy RHA students learn to apply creative, critical and global thinking within a close-knit community that promotes positive social development and lifelong character. We offer a world-class curriculum informed by cutting-edge research and meaningful data. As the first Jewish day school to be accredited by CAIS, we uphold the highest standards shared by Canada’s finest independent schools. RHA’s Early Years Program is modeled on a leading approach to early childhood education that has been

developed, researched and evaluated extensively. It is inspired by Reggio Emilia and encourages curiosity, communication and problem solving. Our students develop the critical skills required for 21st century success and a lifelong love of learning. RHA graduates go on to become society’s original thinkers and principled leaders. For more information, please contact Michael Ferman at 416-224-8737 ext. 137 or mferman@rhacademy.ca. Visit www.rhacademy.ca.

SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1961 GRADES: Nursery-Grade 8

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Bayview Glen Bayview Glen is an academically invigorating, co-educational independent school for students from age 2 to Grade 12. Situated on two closely connected campuses in North York, our vibrantly diverse community is inspired by expert teachers and fuelled by a forward thinking curriculum. Bayview Glen welcomes all students into a nurturing community that allows inquisitive minds to flourish. Our broad offering of curricular and co-curricular activities ranges from Drama to Design Thinking, Robotics to Round Square,

Music to Model United Nations, Athletics to Advanced Placement. We value collaboration, problem solving and academic risktaking to foster the entrepreneurial mindset and respect for diverse viewpoints that are essential for success in the 21st century. Bayview Glen students graduate as compassionate cosmopolitans, fully prepared for top ranked universities at home and abroad. Equally important, they step forth with the skills and attitudes needed to embrace and influence a world of accelerating change.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1962 GRADES: Preschool - 12

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education co : education Bo Boys ys and girls gain insight fr from om each other. other. And thr through ough our ccollaborative, ollaborative, rreal-worldeal-worldffocussed ocussed pr programme, ogramme, our entir entire e ccommunity ommunity llearns earns and gr grows ows ttogether. ogether.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1990 GRADES: JK-8

ENROLMENT: 135 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $18,100 - $22,200

Age Age 2 – G Grade rade 12 in Toronto T Tor oronto bayviewglen.ca bayviewglen.ca

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Philosophically, we understand that education alone is not enough. It is education with values that matter. Our creative and stimulating curriculum goes well beyond the standard requirements and is designed to ensure that students move onto high school with a breadth of knowledge. Our small class sizes and specialist teachers mean particular strengths are identified and nurtured. This is Northmount School.

AUGUST 2020

Northmount School Northmount School is Toronto’s only independent, JK to Grade 8 Catholic boys’ elementary school. Catholic principles provide the foundation and purpose to our school’s everyday life that lead us to a conscious belief that we have a responsibility to prepare our students to build a better world. Thus, our students learn and grow in a community that places great value on the God-given dignity of each person, individuality, self-discovery and kindness, while immersed in a strong academic program.

57


The Toronto Heschel School Celebrating its 25th anniversary, The Toronto Heschel School is a hidden gem, offering a progressive Jewish education within a tightknit, caring community. Abraham Joshua Heschel said, “Wonder is the root of all knowledge.” We aim to inspire a sense of awe and wonder in your children, and a lifelong love of learning. The school is inclusive and egalitarian, promoting mutual respect. Small acts of kindness and concern for others are the basis of interactions at our school. Heschel offers an award-winning,

integrated curriculum built upon arts-based learning and Jewish culture and literacy. We teach for understanding, whereby students internalize concepts and learn to think creatively and critically. Bilingual kindergarten classes foster a high level of Hebrew competency. As the first Jewish Day School in Ontario to reach Platinum EcoSchool status, environmental stewardship is emphasized. Discover what a Heschel education could mean for your child!

SCHOOL TYPE: Private School YEAR FOUNDED: 1996 GRADES: JK-8

ENROLMENT: 300 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 7:1 TUITION: $15,975-$18,975

The Mabin School The school you’re looking for does exist. An established school where children, teachers and parents work together to create something special and different. The Mabin School is a home away from home, where children love to learn because they feel known, respected and capable. Mabin is an educational leader that develops confident and independent learners through a rich, hands-on program centred around our belief in Integration, Inquiry and Reflection. Mabin students thrive upon graduation and

are sought after for their academic competence, original thinking and adaptive leadership abilities. Discover more about Mabin's progressive program and our academic and social curriculum at mabin.com. Find out more by calling 416-964-9594 or by emailing us at admissions@mabin.com.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1980 GRADES: JK-Gr. 6

ENROLMENT: 150 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: N/A TUITION: $27,230

Montcrest School Montcrest School is a welcoming community that specializes in cultivating incredible young people. We believe in small class sizes and unparalleled student-teacher relationships. We believe individuality is something to protect, not suppress. And we believe in meeting our students with the ideal supports — and perfect challenges — for each age and stage, so they emerge as secure, self-directed young people who excel in academics and in life. Simply put, Montcrest helps children become who they’re meant to be.

Our broad aspiration is to be recognized as the leading elementary school community in Canada in realizing the unique potential of each child. Please visit our website or contact our admissions team to learn more about the Montcrest experience for your child and family.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 1961 GRADES: JK-8

ENROLMENT: 320 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 8:1 TUITION: $25,750 - $42,100

www.montcrest.ca admissions@montcrest.ca Montcrest School - You’ve got this.

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Greenwood College School

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At Greenwood, we believe every student can venture further. Our small, co-ed community allows students to feel positive and engaged each day, while our trailblazing approach to personalized education helps every student to realize their full potential. Greenwood’s teachers get to know their students not only as learners, but as people. With this foundation in place, our progressive approach to learning challenges students based on what they need to stretch themselves, whether that’s a personalized extension project or

support from the Student Success Centre. Outside of the classroom, Greenwood offers an array of high-calibre athletics, arts and extracurricular programs. Experiential learning opportunities, including outdoor education and service learning, encourage students to find new depths of perseverance and to build connections with the broader Toronto community. When our alumni leave Greenwood, they’re ready to thrive in highly selective postsecondary programs, and to explore what excites them.

SCHOOL TYPE: Independent School YEAR FOUNDED: 2002 GRADES: 7-12

ENROLMENT: 500 STUDENT/STAFF RATIO: 7:1 TUITION: $37,700


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Cleaning

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11

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call Andrew Plum

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TOP CASH PAID

LEARNING

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8 COMPUTER AND IT SUPPORT Set-up, tutoring, troubleshooting, networks, virus removal. Friendly and patient. House calls, references available. Your questions? My answers! David Block 416-830-6160 or email dblock@sympatico.ca.

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AUGUST 2020

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MARCANTONIO FURNITURE

9

MATHEMATICAL TUTORIALS Private tutoring in mathematical subjects from refresher courses to advanced levels for all ages. Call George Giordano, B.Sc., M.A. bbgeorgebb@gmail.com or 416-545-1937.

13. Tutoring 14. Music Lessons

Tutoring

13

August 25

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We are a full service tree care company that promotes tree preservation with an ethical approach to caring for trees.

Health & Fitness

61


AUGUST 2020 EDITION YOU’VE REACHED THE END OF THE

BEFORE YOU GO, TAKE A GANDER AT THESE FIVE HISTORIC EVENTS OF YEARS PAST

| POST | A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

It is Leafs versus Oilers (sort of) as the NHL is set to get underway on Aug. 1, after five months on dry ice. Storied NHL cities Toronto and Edmonton will act as hubs for all the action.

62

Toronto’s first Caribana festival (now Toronto Caribbean Carnival), which has been cancelled this year, was held on Aug. 5, 1967, and has been a cherished part of the city ever since.

Movie cinemas are set to open this month, just like on Aug. 31, 1896, when the first motion picture played in Toronto.

It won’t be the same this August without the CNE, which was cancelled for just the second time in the end-of-summer spectacular’s 142-year history.

Aug. 19, 1874, saw the establishment of an official fire department approved by the city council. Photo: the Bedford Park Volunteer Fire Brigade circa 1900.


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ROYAL LEPAGE Real Estate Services Heaps Estrin Team, Brokerage 1391 Bayview Avenue, Toronto 416-424-4910

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