Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
FACE EVERYTHING AND RISE p10
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Councillor Mark Grimes Kicks Off This Month’s Feature
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Here’s A List Of Local Restaurants Who Could Really Use Your Help
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Dr. Timothy Kodsi of Mimico Medical Remains Hopeful Amid COVID-19
ALL ABOUT MIMICO
TIRED OF COOKING?
COVID-19: A MESSAGE OF HOPE
ON THE COVER
(Left to Right): Tara Cameron, Dr. Shoghi Nikoo & Dr. Negin Mastouri along with the staff at Mimico Medical are committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive and timely care for our community
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www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE: SELF-MONITORING, SELF-ISOLATION, AND ISOLATION FOR COVID-19 SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19
FEVER
SELF-MONITORING
COUGH
DIFFICULTY BREATHING
SELF-ISOLATION
ISOLATION
You have:
You have:
You have:
ffno
ffno
ffsymptoms,
symptoms
symptoms
AND
AND
AND
ffa
ffa
ffyou
history of possible exposure to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, in the last 14 days
history of possible exposure to the novel coronavirus due to travel outside of Canada or close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19
even if mild
have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are waiting for the results of a lab test for COVID-19
SELF-MONITOR means to:
SELF-ISOLATE means to:
To be ISOLATED means to:
ffmonitor
yourself for 14 days for one or more symptoms of COVID-19
ffstay
ffstay
about your day but avoid crowded places and increase your personal space from others, whenever possible
ffavoid
at home and monitor yourself for symptoms, even if mild, for 14 days
ffgo
contact with other people to help prevent the spread of disease in your home and in your community in the event you become symptomatic
You need to self-monitor if:
Self-isolate if:
ffyou
ffyou
have reason to believe you have been exposed to a person with COVID-19
OR are in close contact with older adults or medically vulnerable people
ffyou
have travelled outside of Canada within the last 14 days
at home until your Public Health Authority advises you that you are no longer at risk of spreading the virus to others
ffavoid contact with other people
to help prevent the spread of disease in your home and in your community, particularly people at high risk of severe illness outcomes such as older adults or medically vulnerable people
You need to isolate if: have been diagnosed with COVID-19
ffyou
OR
OR
ffyour
ffyou
Public Health Authority has identiďŹ ed you as a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19
OR
are waiting to hear the results of a laboratory test for COVID-19
OR have been advised to isolate at home for any other reason by your Public Health Authority
ffyou
have been advised to self-monitor for any other reason by your Public Health Authority
ffyou
If you develop symptoms, isolate yourself from others immediately and contact your Public Health Authority as soon as possible
If you develop symptoms, even if mild, stay home, avoid other people and contact your Public Health Authority as soon as possible
If your symptoms get worse, immediately contact your healthcare provider or Public Health Authority and follow their instructions
WE CAN ALL DO OUR PART IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. FOR MORE INFORMATION: 1-833-784-4397
canada.ca/coronavirus
phac.info.aspc@canada.ca
MASTHEAD EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS DR. TIMOTHY KODSI South Etobicoke Resident & Medical Lead at Mimico Medical
MATTHEW DOUGLAS Long Branch Resident & Lead Pastor at West Edge Church in Port Credit
BILL ZUFELT Long Branch Resident and Chair of the History & Culture Committee, LBNA
BRAD JONES President & Owner of Ridley Funeral Home in New Toronto
DEREK STOCKLEY ANDREA TURPIN Principal, Lakeshore Campus; Dean, Mimico Resident and Co-owner of Faculty of Social & Community Services Adrian + Andrea Toronto Real Estate AMANDA KIRKLAND Long Branch Resident & Owner of Blu Concierge
DR. MELANIE DECUNHA, ND Naturopathic Doctor and Founder of ONE Health Services in Long Branch
JONATHAN NHAN Pharmacist & Associate Owner at Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch
MARIA TERZAGHI Pharmacist & Certified Health Coach at Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch
NATASSIA MORRIS MARK GRIMES Long Branch Resident and Operations Toronto City Councillor for Ward 3 Manager at Lakeshore Arts Etobicoke-Lakeshore JESSICA TUMMINIERI KAM SARAN Mother of two very active boys, Family South Etobicoke Resident and Life Editor, Wife of the Publisher Community Lead at Office146
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FREE 3-DAY PASS +1 HOUR
BOARDROOM CREDIT
To redeem this offer please contact our Community Manager by email (info@office146.com) phone (416 855-4142) or stop by for a free tour!
SUPPORTING ESSENTIAL THROUGH COVID-19 FOLLOW USSERVICES ON Ř @OFFICE146 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @OFFICE146
TIRED OF EATING CANNED FOOD?
WE’VE LAUNCHED A NEW PICK-UP & DELIVERY MENU
GET YOUR FAVOURITES www.tjosheasirishsnug.ca
T.J. O’SHEA’S IRISH SNUG
Best Pub in Long Branch 3481 Lake Shore Blvd W (West of Thirty First St)
416-253-5500 / INSTAGRAM: @irishsnug
TABLE OF CONTENTS APRIL 2020 PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p8
FOOD & DRINK...p18
Faith, Hope & Charity are needed now more than ever during the COVID-19 crisis.
Tired of cooking? Here’s a list of who’s open and offering takeout and delivery services.
INSPIRATION...p10
HUMBER COLLEGE...p20
Pastor Matthew Douglas helps us grapple with our F.E.A.R. in his address to Readers this month.
Derek Stockley updates us on Humber College’s response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
COMMUNITY...p11
WELLNESS...p22
Office146 outlines some useful tips to stay productive if you find yourself working from home.
Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND offers her thoughts on coping with isolation.
ALL ABOUT MIMICO...p12
COVID-19. A MESSAGE OF HOPE...p24
Councillor Mark Grimes kicks off this month’s special feature about the neighbourhood he loves.
Dr. Timothy Kodsi of Mimico Medical offers a message of hope amid COVID-19. A must read!
FREEMASONRY IN MIMICO...p13
EL PODCAST...p26
Mimico Resident and Master Mason, Radaslaw Smaczny, speaks openly about Freemasonry.
Get caught up on recent episodes of the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast.
LIVIN’ MIMICO...p14
SOME FUN WITH THE KIDS...p27
Mimico Residents and husband-wife real estate team, Adrian + Andrea give us the Mimico scoop!
Jessica Tumminieri is too busy wrangling her boys to write this month, so here’s Roger’s 2 cents...
ON THE COVER...p16
LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS...p28
Mimico Medical - your local family medicine clinic here to help throughout COVID-19 and beyond.
The always insightful Brad Jones offers up some words to live (and die) by this month.
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS is the only free, monthly magazine that’s focused on life in South Etobicoke. It is mailed to houses in Long Branch & Mimico by Canada Post. Additional copies are available at selected local businesses and high-traffic pick-up locations. We capture life in South Etobicoke by highlighting the many positive contributions to our community by local business owners, elected officials, and residents. No part of this publication in any of its forms may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. 146 Thirtieth St, Suite 100, Unit 25, Etobicoke, ON M8W 2C4
Published By
FIAT LUX MEDIA
All Rights Reserved
Royal LePage Signature c: 416-319-6893 / o: 416-205-0355 / info@adrianandrea.com www.adrianandrea.com
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY has inspired me to re-tool this edition with a mix of coronavirus content and also some of what I was going to publish originally as I think it’s important to keep on keeping on. See page 24. Featured on this month’s cover are the good folks at Mimico Medical. They’re busy on the front lines helping members of our community stay healthy. Read about the origins of their clinic and their positive contributions to the South Etobicoke community on page 16.
ROGER TUMMINIERI
Publisher , Etobicoke Lakeshore Press
etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com @etobicokelakeshorepress Welcome to what was supposed to be our very first All About Mimico edition. Obviously, things have changed recently amid the COVID-19 outbreak. I tried as best I could to pivot to reflect this crisis with some of our editorial features, not the least of which is a contribution from Dr. Timothy Kodsi, Medical Lead at Mimico Medical. Dr. Kodsi writes candidly about COVID-19 in a way that we may not necessarily be used to reading if we’ve been glued to social or mainstream media sources. His is a message of hope, which
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Given our focus on Mimico this month, we’ve included a number of features about the neighbourhood, including a Kick-Off message on page 12 from Ward 3 Councillor Mark Grimes. I’d like to thank the Councillor for taking the time to write this especially given how busy he is at this time. Thank you as well to Mimico residents, Adrian Coimbra and Andrea Turpin for shining a light on their neighbourhood and offering our Readers some insight into their daily lives. See page 14. This edition will hopefully serve as a distraction for you and your family as we navigate these uncharted waters together. If you’re stuck at home with the kids (as we are), I hope you’ll find some of the tips outlined on page 27 to be useful, fun, and humorous. We could all use a good laugh right about now. Now’s a good time to call out a very important article in this edition. It’s written by Matthew Douglas, Lead Pastor of West Edge Church. Pastor Matthew talks about F.E.A.R. and how we can react to a crisis in one of two ways. If you read one thing in this magazine, please read this article on page 10.
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
Nobody really knows how long this will last, but it’s evident that many of our small businesses, including restaurants, are hurting. If you can, please consider supporting them by ordering in for delivery or placing takeout orders. We’ve included some of the local restaurants in the neighbourhood that are utilizing expanded delivery zones and innovative takeout solutions on page 18. In the spirit of publishing good news, please reach out to me with any positive experiences you’ve encountered amid the COVID-19 crisis. I think it’s important that we read about good people doing good things. In an effort to react to life’s daily changes, I’ve decided not to distribute this edition through local retail shops. Many of which are closed and, at the time of publication, Ontario is in a state of emergency with only essential businesses open. Instead, I’ve diverted those copies into the mail system; adding additional circulation with Canada Post for delivery to homes in Mimico. It took a pandemic to motivate me to be social. With my wife’s help, we’re staying connected and engaged through Facebook and Instagram.
No. 501 in Mimico, I’ve learned to practice the principles of Faith, Hope & Charity. I remain Faithful in God that we will all get through this crisis. I’m Hopeful in humanity and, specifically in Canadians, that we will do our part to slow the spread of the coronavirus and that our economy will recover quickly. And, lastly, Charity (or Love) must be a dominant force to consider. I think we have to look out for others, show love, kindness, and compassion. We’re not all built the same and those of us who can are called to look after those who need help the most. They say ‘Love thy Neighbour’, well I think this applies now more than ever. Finally, and most importantly, I find myself leaning on my marriage for support. My wife, Jessica, has been steadfastly calm throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Her advice to me has been simple: Stay positive. Stay hopeful. We’re all going to get through this and when we do, people will come back stronger than ever before. Stay safe, stay healthy, and thank you for reading!
Please follow us @etobicokelakeshorepress In a time such as this, I find myself leaning on the foundational pillars of my life. The first of which is my faith in God. I pray every day and give thanks that my family is healthy and safe and I do the same for my customers, suppliers, as well as our Readers like yourself. I also rely on the teachings of Freemasonry. As a Master Mason and member of Superior Lodge
MAKING GOOD MEN BETTER
IN MIMICO SINCE 1912
SUPERIOR LODGE No. 501 23 Superior Ave, Mimico
inquiries: SuperiorLodge501@gmail.com
Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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INSPIRATION FACE EVERYTHING AND RISE You are on a quest. There are tales that speak so deeply to the human spirit. Most of us are familiar with J.R.R Tolkien’s book, The Hobbit. What is interesting is that The Hobbit was nowhere near as popular as its sequel, Lord of The Rings. “Tell me why, Matthew!” Okay, okay, I will tell you why. The Hobbit was written as a children’s fantasy novel and it was just a tale of adventure. Lord of The Rings was more popular because it wasn’t about an adventure it was about a quest. An adventure is something you choose. It’s a place you go to and you come back again. It’s about finding excitement. A quest is much different. A quest is not something you choose, it’s something that comes to you. You’re called to it and to step up. It interrupts your regular agenda and sets a whole new agenda for you. With a quest, you don’t know where it will take you. And when you go on a quest you never come back the same. It changes you. You are on a quest. Your life has been interrupted by this antagonist, COVID-19. You are now moving in a different direction and your life has a new agenda. You don’t know where this quest is going to take you and you likely have the sense that things will not be the same once you complete it. More than that, you will not be the same.
MATTHEW DOUGLAS
Lead Pastor, West Edge Church
Here is what matters: you need to be equipped to complete the quest. When we are faced with a quest, our human response is fear. There are two acronyms for FEAR and both are true: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ and ‘Face Everything and Rise’. Whether you run or rise is dependent on if you have been equipped with strength and courage. Winston Churchill put it best when he said: “Fear is a reaction but courage is a decision.” You must decide to be strong and courageous. Not just for you but for those around you. I believe that we are equipped with strength and courage when we think. I’m equipped with courage when I think about who God is and that He is in control of my life. When I am faced with a quest and I forget who God is I want to run. But when I think about who God is I can face any obstacle and rise. You are on a quest. But you don’t have to face it alone. Connect with me through email at: matthew.douglas@westedge.org Although when you complete your quest things will not be the same…you will not be the same...it does not mean you will be less. I believe you will be greater. Together we can face this and rise above it with strength and courage.
MATTHEW DOUGLAS
Lead Pastor at West Edge Church and Long Branch Resident 157 Lakeshore Rd W / 905-274-6564 @westedgecc / www.westedge.org
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
COMMUNITY WORK FROM HOME TIPS
During these times, we want to ensure we support each other within our community. It is still important we try to keep a routine and utilize the online options available to us. We’ve done some extra research to find tips to assist you so we can still be proactive and positive within our businesses.
- End work at the same time each day; try to differentiate between work and home as much as possible and “leave the office”
- Review your business and tackle the long list you have had to push back: Accounting, Website, Blog Posts, Marketing plans for future months
- The Fix + Co (one of our members) have opened their storefront to pickups & deliveries
- Continue to move forward and aim to reach your sales goals - If you usually have lunch meetings with clients, why not Uber them something yummy and then discuss matters via phone or video call - Keep to an established routine, get up at the same time, eat breakfast, have a shower and dress for work
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Uber Eats is offering Free Delivery - let’s support our local restaurants when we get hungry
We will get through these times and will get back to normality. Office146 Team
KAM SARAN
Community Lead, OFFICE146 146 Thirtieth St (South of Horner Ave) BOOK YOUR FREE TOUR kam@office146.com / 416-855-4142 www.office146.com
HIRE A CONCIERGE The world just changed. Big time! We went from rushing about trying to get the kids to and from daycare and still get our work done. Now, we’re at home...with the kids...and we still have to get our work done. There was never a better time to hire a personal concierge. We featured Amanda Kirkland on the cover of our March edition (left). She owns Blu Concierge; a personal concierge service based in Long Branch dedicated to making people’s lives easier. Now that life isn’t what it used to be, you might just consider calling on Amanda for some extra help. Even though we’re all distancing ourselves from one another physically, there’s still a lot that needs to get done. But with what time? You’re running around entertaining (and educating) your kids and still trying to keep up with your work.
READ IT ONLINE AT
www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com
Whether it’s an online shopping list that needs to get ordered, deliveries scheduled, or obscure tasks you’re not even sure she can help you with, it’s worth reaching out to Amanda to see how she can assist. She’s local and she’s efficient. -R.T. BLU CONCIERGE amanda@bluconcierge.ca / www.bluconcierge.ca See website for list of services
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ALL ABOUT MIMICO COUNCILLOR GRIMES
COUNCILLOR MARK GRIMES Seen here supporting local businesses at Jimmy’s Coffee in Mimico
The namesake for our neighbourhood connects us to the indigenous history of the area. The word “Mimico” comes from an indigenous word meaning “place of the wild pigeon”. In 1967, Harvey Currell wrote The Mimico Story to share the history of our neighbourhood, and to demonstrate how “all that has ever happened here has helped to make up the tradition, the customs, and the atmosphere which today gives the community a character of its own”. One just has to walk through the streets to see the reminders of our past. Our streets are named after former Mimico reeves, mayors, and those who have made an important impact on our community. A charming blend of pre-war and post-war homes, bungalows, apartments, schools and churches provide a glimpse into the lives of those who were here before us. But as we reflect on the history of Mimico, we see that our community has changed, and will continue to change. It is in our response to this change and in our ability to adapt that we can have an opportunity to improve the lives of today’s Mimico residents, while laying the groundwork for those who will come after us. Since I was first elected to City Council in 2003, I’ve work with City staff and the local community to make improvements throughout the area. I continue work closely with our Business Improvement Areas to make sure that we have a strong local business network to ensure that people can continue to shop locally. Mimico is a very family friendly community and it is essential that we have vibrant parks for our kids to play in. We’ve revitalized the vast majority of our parks throughout Etobicoke-Lakeshore, and there is one project
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that is beginning that will serve our neighbourhoods for generations. Grand Avenue Park is starting to undergo a major revitalization. Beginning in March 2020, Phase One of the project will see the construction of a multi-use sports field, splash pad/water play facility, temporary dogs’ off-leash area, parking lot, walkways, lighting, and turf and tree planting. In addition to this, there will be some site remediation to ensure that the park is safe for our children to play in for generations, as the property was once home to an old waste incinerator that was built in 1947. Completion of Phase One work is anticipated for July 2021, with Phase Two work to begin shortly thereafter and will include the installation of a playground and washroom building. This is an exciting project for our community, so be sure to sign up for my weekly eNews for updates on this project and others like it that are happening throughout the Ward. Mimico is a neighbourhood that is near and dear to my heart. My wife and I watched our five children grow up in this community. I coached hockey and lacrosse for kids throughout Mimico, and saw these kids grow and begin to mentor the next generation of Mimico youth. Over the last few years I have held Mimico Movie night alongside the Mimico Residents Association, and each time I see all of the families joining us in Mimico Memorial Park, I sit back and reflect on the sense of community that we all share and I hope that this is what our forebears envisioned for us all those years ago.
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
ARTS & CULTURE MIMICO’S ARTISTIC GEMS Nestled between Mimico and Superior Avenues, on the north side of Lake Shore Blvd, stands an airy storefront space that boasts: “We think creativity is contagious. Come in and catch some.” The storefront and second floor offices are ground zero for the team at Lakeshore Arts to develop, plan, and execute impactful and engaging community arts initiatives. LSA’s main base of operations resides in Mimico, the centrepiece being the Community Project Space where year-round arts activations invite neighbours in to engage, question, discuss, and reflect. Outside of the main space, LSA serves all of Etobicoke-Lakeshore with programs that empower youth, address seniors’ isolation, activate neighbourhood spaces, and build community through public events. One of the organization’s most popular partnership events, The Lakeshorts International Short Film Festival, was founded and is spearheaded by former Mimico residents: renowned Canadian actress, Michelle Nolden, and film and television producer, Chris Szarka. The festival was created to bring the world to Etobicoke. Lakeshorts celebrates 10 years this May and LSA is proud to be presenting a Family matinee screening for the second year, with international family-focused films for children ages 7+. With a legacy born in Mimico, Lakeshorts is a festival for everyone to enjoy - in fact over the past ten years it has become one of South Etobicoke’s destination events. The team can’t wait to celebrate this milestone year with the dedicated patrons who’ve been supporting the festival from year 1! NOTE: Lakeshorts is postponed to Sept. 25 & 26, 2020 due to COVID-19.
MICHELLE NOLDEN, CHRIS SZARKA
and their family attened Lakeshorts See www.lakeshorts.ca for info & ticket sales
FREEMASONRY IN MIMICO I’ m a Freemason. I have been for about four years. What attracted me to Freemasonry was the feeling of camaraderie and togetherness, the honor and tradition felt when attending a fraternal organization that’s centuries old, whose tradition has been tried and tested over the many years. I believe that today’s man, with all the upheaval and uncertainty of modern life, is on a constant quest for something set on a foundation of firm, stable, honorable tradition rooted in spirituality to help bring balance to himself and his life. Masonry’s main focus is on making good men better and on balancing what’s most important to a man: family, faith, work, and Freemasonry as a whole. It must be understood that there is no such thing as perfection in Masonry, but we do all strive to get as close to it as possible by being better husbands, better contributors to society, better employees, better men, better Brothers. We are all taught that we get out what we put in and there is a lot of truth to that statement. Speaking from personal experience, I have noticed the subtle differences that Masonry has brought to my life. I have found that belonging to a fraternal organization that requires me to contribute a cer-
tain amount of time and effort to it has helped me become more organized and has taught me to be patient, as well as the value of time and how precious it is. Add to this the wealth of experience and knowledge you can acquire from our older members, whom you’d otherwise never have a chance to meet, and Masonry is an excellent place to grow as a human being in general. We should always strive to learn from our past and allow that to influence our future. What better place to actually put that into practice than in a Lodge where generations of men come to meet and talk and practice together for the betterment of mankind as a whole. I entered Masonry out of curiosity and a quest for Brotherhood. I have found lifelong friendship, bonds that cannot be broken, and a place where I truly belong and look forward to going and spending my days. I am a Freemason and I am proud to call myself one. Radoslaw Smaczny Master Mason & Mimico Resident Connaught Hall; 23 Superior Ave superiorlodge501@gmail.com
Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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LIVIN’ MIMICO WITH ADRIAN + ANDREA, MIMICO Adrian Coimbra + Andrea Turpin, the husband-wife real estate team who have contributed so much to this publication over the past year share their passion for the neighbourhood in which they live and the one we’ve come to know and love...MIMICO! -R.T. What do you love most about living in Mimico? We’ve moved around a few times in the neighbourhood, but Mimico has been our home for over 15 years. We have raised our 2 boys and 2 pugs here and we are here to stay. The community is amazing! Everyone is friendly. Mimico is safe, walkable, has good schools, a library, lots of amenities, parks, public transit and lake access. It has a small town feel within the big city. We have made so many friends over the years and the same for our kids. There are so many kids on our street that we can leave them to play outside on their own with no hesitation. What is your perfect weekend morning? We typically have a lot of kids’ activities and work on weekends but we try to have the mornings to ourselves if the schedule permits. We always start off the weekends with an early workout together at F45 New Toronto. It’s something we both love to do and our boys can come and have their “screen time” for the day while we burn off some steam. After our workout we grab a hot drink at Sidenote Café and go for a family walk or bike ride through Amos Waites Park and the Martin Goodman Trail. Lunch is definitely on our minds now, so depending on the time of year, we eat or pick up groceries at the Humber Bay Farmer’s Market or have a quick lunch from the SanRemo hot table or sandwich bar. Most people think of SanRemo for delicious treats but the hot food options are totally underrated! I heard Pizza is one of your favourite things to eat. What are your top 5 Pizza spots? Yes! We used to do Friday night takeout pizza when the boys were younger. We don’t do it as often but now and again we like to indulge. In no particular order, we recommend: FBI, Revolver, I’ll Padres – Yummy Pizza, Pizza Oro Di Napoli, and SanRemo Bakery.
How about places to get dessert? Our whole family has a sweet tooth! We love ice cream, and there are no shortage of options in the area. Our favourite spots are: Sweet Olenka’s, Ed’s Real Scoop, Lola’s Gelato, SanRemo (Gelato), Tom’s Dairy Freeze (Just outside Mimico but the soft serve dipped cones are worth it).
OUR BOYS! What do you do when you don’t have the kids? Having some personal time is also important to us. When we have a night to ourselves a typical date would start with walking to eat dinner at one of our local favourites. Here are some of our go-to spots: Nimman Thai, LaVinia, Tich Modern Indian, Kothur Indian Cuisine, and La Vecchia. What are some of your other local faves? Mimico offers such a variety of businesses that we can walk to and use regularly. Shout-outs to Boo Boo’s Pet Grooming, Lake Shore Arts, Home Hardware Mimico, Lakeside Dentists, Marina Animal Hospital, TWM Compu Age and The Fifty-Eight. What should we know about your business? We are a husband and wife real estate team. By working with just the two of us you get the added value of double the advice and double the attention. The customer experience is important to us and we strive to make our clients happy by making the process of buying or selling a home as stress-free and fluid as possible. It is the biggest financial decision our clients will make but it is not about dollars and cents to us. We have helped families buy and sell within Mimico over the years and we are happy they can stay in the ‘Hood forever! We are proud to have featured many local Mimico residents and business owners in the Etobicoke Lakeshore Press as well as on our website.
WE LOVE PIZZA! 14
Please visit www.adrianandrea.com/blog for past and upcoming features on local businesses and what it’s like to be Livin’ Mimico!
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
RESIDENTS AND LOCAL REALTORS
MIMICO’S GOT THAT SMALL TOWN VIBE SO CLOSE TO THE BIG CITY.
ADRIAN COIMBRA + ANDREA TURPIN Mimico Residents and Husband-Wife Real Estate Team Adrian + Andrea Toronto Real Estate www.adrianandrea.com Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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COVER STORY MIMICO MEDICAL The team at Mimico Medical are clear about their mission. They provide access to their services every day and are ready to serve this community with compassion and commitment. You see, not only is their clinic in this neighbourhood, but so are their roots – and those roots run deep. Many of their staff and clinicians grew up here and are now raising their families in this beautiful community. The team at Mimico Medical feels blessed that their professional development brought them back here to provide care to their neighbours. They understand the unique challenges faced by residents of Mimico/Lakeshore and are ready to help residents tackle those challenges from a place of deep respect and empathy. They base their culture of care on a multi-disciplinary team approach built on the foundation of holistic Family Medicine. A real rarity in our healthcare system, they have four family doctors accepting new patients. Their physicians also highly respect the knowledge and opinions of the Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy, Psychiatry, and Psychology professionals on their team. They believe that this team approach helps their patients thrive and overcome adversities. Regardless of their expertise or area of focus, high-quality patient care is the guiding principle of each team member. Their team of clinicians each bring a unique skill set to the practice. Dr. Negin Mastouri is highly qualified in cosmetic dermatology and infectious disease control. Dr. Shoghi Nikoo specializes in LGBTQ and trans health; he is a leading family physician in the Greater Toronto Area with expertise in this field. Dr. Milan Atanackovic is passionate about emphasizing preventative medicine and is especially talented in performing in-office procedures. Dr. Timothy Kodsi has boundless energy for teaching the next generation of doctors about holistic and compassionate Family Medicine. All four providers take mental health seriously and put patient respect and safety at the forefront of their day-to-day decision-making.
truly an asset when it comes to both injury prevention and rehabilitation. Carlos Flores is Mimico Medical’s Registered Massage Therapist (RMT). His passion for helping and serving others led him to become an RMT who helps patients by providing optimal care through massage techniques, stretches, mobility exercises, and functional/ correctional exercises. Carlos is well-versed in human anatomy and collaborates with our physicians to take his brand of Massage Therapy to an elite level. There’s no question that mental health is a central component of overall well-being. Mimico Medical’s psychologist, Dr. Shelley Gorman, brings a lifetime of experience and a diverse skill set to their clinic. She offers individual counselling, couples’ therapy, addiction management, among other psychological services. Psychiatry services are also available in-house at Mimico Medical for patients who require them. Mimico Medical’s message to its Mimico/ Lakeshore neighbourhoods is to express how honoured and blessed they feel to be part of this community. They dedicate themselves to providing timely, thorough, empathetic care while evolving with the rapidly changing healthcare landscape during the COVID-19 era. Please call or email them to inquire about joining their multi-disciplinary medical practice. They’ll be happy to welcome you! ...
MIMICO MEDICAL 398 Royal York Rd 416-201-0836
www.mimicomedical.com
Tara Cameron runs her Physiotherapy practice at Mimico Medical. Tara believes in a combination of manual therapy, exercise, and retraining your functional movement patterns. She has also taken post-graduate courses in Manual Therapy, Dry Needling, and is a Functional Movement expert. She uses her multi-faceted expertise to bolster her Physiotherapy treatments. Tara has taught workshops at the Toronto Yoga Conference and has a passion for combining Physiotherapy with yoga to keep you happily and safely on your mat. She is
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
FOOD & DRINK TIRED OF COOKING?
Ed’s Real Scoop
2370 Lake Shore Blvd W www.edsrealscoop.com 416-259-9595
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TAKEOUT & DELIVERY OPTIONS T.J. O’SHEA’S IRISH SNUG
FAIR GROUNDS CAFE
Alas, O’Shea’s lives to fight another day. Lend them your support through St. Paddy’s v2.0).
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EDEN TRATTORIA
THE RUSTIC SOCIAL HOUSE
With a newly expanded delivery zone, Eden is everywhere you need them to be. Eat well!
Pop in, pick-up, AND GO HOME! Also offering free delivery with Uber Eats.
MY SECRET KITCHEN
STONEHOOKER BREWING COMPANY
Too busy working from home while entertaining your kids? Let My Secret Kitchen help with dinner!
For some, self-isolation means stocking up on beer for home consumption. Drive Thru Pick-up is here!
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SLOW YOUR ROLL! You can still get your ice cream fix from Ed’s in Mimico. Feel better now?!
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DECOURSES CAFE
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Uber yourself Brunch - every day! DeCourses is still here for you and all your culinary needs.
Social Distancing doesn’t mean you have to eat poorly. Stay healthy with Vital Planet.
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MY SECRET KITCHEN
316 Lakeshore Rd E / 905-990-2057 www.mysecretkitchen.ca
ROYAL MEATS BAR/BEQUE 710 Kipling Ave / 416-251-1144 www.royalmeats.ca
“Best Breakfast” in Long Branch
3232 Lake Shore Blvd W (West of Twenty Second St) IG: @decourses / 416-855-1362
Avo Benny w/ Bacon
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HUMBER COLLEGE COMMUNITY UPDATE Humber’s Lakeshore campus is showing its beauty even as the community weathers a difficult time. The campus is closed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be no classes there for the remainder of the Winter 2020 semester. Teaching and learning is shifting online or the college is finding new ways to support students off campus. We would still like to connect with you, the Lakeshore community. Many of you are distancing yourselves socially and for some, it helps to spend time in nature, safely away from others. Campus and its surroundings are coming alive with spring. The ducks are getting ready to welcome ducklings, swimming circles around swans, lazily making their way to the shore. Spring is also gardening season. Humber Lakeshore is monitoring the global health situation locally and nationally to make decisions about our community garden project.
Last year we donated the harvest to a local charity to help with food security in the area. In 2019, we harvested more than 300 kilograms of produce. Humber is committed to the safety and health of its campus communities. Humber College President Chris Whitaker noted our gratitude in an update last week. “I want to acknowledge the communities across our three campuses for their support and understanding. We all look forward to the day when we can resume our regular activities,” he said. To engage with Humber Lakeshore online, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as @LakeshoreGrnds. There you’ll find updates, photos, events, and other ways to connect. We will continue to update you with news from Humber and Lakeshore campus at https://humber.ca/updates/
The plan previous to the COVID-19 outbreak included installation of 15 raised beds in various locations in the neighbourhood. The beds would be tended to by Humber College staff and members of the community.
HUMBER LAKESHORE CAMPUS
Photo Credit: Charmaigne Cadelina, Global Business Management
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DEREK STOCKLEY
Senior Dean & Principal Humber College Lakeshore Campus
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
HISTORY MIMICO’S LESSER KNOW FACTS
Mimico, ON Lakeshore Blvd; looking East Enriched with ‘Sirs’ and NHL players to Canada’s first electric car, the West End Town of Mimico (Ojibwe for Passenger Pigeon) has a fascinating and diverse historical template of destiny and legacy. Even during the 1960s, one fondly remembers the Ed Sullivan Show with CBC’s comedy team of Wayne and Shuster (both Mimico residents) broadcasting hilarity into North American living rooms with their homegrown hockey skits of The Mimico Mice. All reminiscing aside, the formidable story of Mimico is much more than can be sufficiently morphed into this short article. So instead, I am bringing forth some of the lesser known but equally important historical sketches about Mimico. As it was through England and the United States, the Canadian Young Men’s Christian Association secretaries held the torch far above the ground to form the Canadian Railway YMCAs. The Railway YMCAs were built along developing railing CPR, GTR lines, providing recreation, literacy programs, reading rooms and accommodation to railway workers. During the 1870s Thomas J. Wilkie (then Toronto YMCA’s secretary and founding father of Long Branch) successfully organized and implemented the East, Central and West End Toronto chapters of the Railway YMCA. Later in the 1890s with the incredible expansion and importance of the Grand Trunk Railway, the existing east-end rail yards had become inadequate. The solution was to move and establish an expansive rail yard in Mimico - complete with its famous roundhouse. The Railway YMCA quickly embraced the international mandate ‘to give men purpose’ and help built the necessary rail spurs, buildings, sheds and stations. To house and board the Railway men they also built the Rail YMCA residences. The Mimico Rail YMCA was operated until 1957 until the YMCA decommissioned the west-end unit. Today, the Mimico maintenance yards are an invaluable depot to the VIA Rail, GO Trains, and Metrolinx Transportation rail systems.
In the 1880s, Mimico even had its own Radial Tramway (Toronto & Mimico Electric Railway and Light Company), running adjacent to Lakeshore Boulevard which would take passengers from Sunnyside to favourite destinations, including the Humber Crystal Palace Pier, Long Branch Race Track and Resort, and over Etobicoke Creek with its terminus in Port Credit. The modern T & M Railway attracted many of Toronto’s wealthy gentry to ”the land of the pigeons”. Included in the distinguished residential roster was Sir Ernest MacMillian (U of T Music Building), Sir Henry Pellatt (Bailey House after losing Casa Loma to tax distress) and Frederick Barnard Fetherstonhaugh (the Mimico Castle at the foot of Royal York Road). Fetherstonhaugh, a lawyer and patent agent, in 1893 owned one of the first electric automobiles in Canada. He charged the batteries of the 700 pound car from wires connected to the trolley wires of the T & M railway. Can you imagine the uproar if we all charged our Tesla’s to the TTC line today?! Within the wealthy circle of influence, Mimico had one of the first libraries outside the United States sponsored by the Andrew Carnegie (Industrialist & Philanthropist) Library Foundation. Interestingly enough, the Mimico Library plebiscite was slightly shy of population parameters but was granted because of an overwhelming deputation using the Carnegie Library formula: Help those who will faithfully help themselves. We couldn’t talk about Mimico without noting its rich history of NHL greats! Dave Bolland, Dave Clarkson, Ed Harrison, Brendan Shanahan, Brendan Smith, Reilly Smith, Al Smith and counting all call Mimico home! Mimico, you have scored!
BILL ZUFELT
Long Branch Resident and Chair of the History & Culture Committee Long Branch Neighbourhood Association bill.zufelt@lbna.ca
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WELLNESS COPING WITH ISOLATION Loneliness and isolation can have detrimental effects on not just an individual’s mental health, but also their overall wellbeing. Studies have shown that actual and perceived social isolation are both associated with increased risk for early mortality (aka DEATH!). In our busy world, making in-person connections is becoming more and more challenging. Employees work from home more, couples meet via an app, appointments take place over video, and coffee dates have turned into video chats. Plain and simple, people have much less face-to-face interaction than in previous times. But face-to-face interaction has tremendous benefits for our health and communities! The overall health of a community can have far-reaching protective effects on not just the individual, but the community as a whole. This is why we created The Wonder Woman Collective. It is an initiative designed to foster community, social bonding and support amongst women. It consists of 6 weekly in-person sessions with a focus on integrating mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. The sessions cover a variety of topics ranging from latest trends in diet to mindset mastery and manifesting, to women’s hormones 101. Our vision for The Wonder Women Collective is a place where women feel safe to open up, relate to each other and champion each other. A place where they can recognize the Wonder Woman inside them; both the fierce and the nurturing; the powerful and strong-willed, and the lover of peace.
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DR. MELANIE DECUNHA, ND Naturopathic Doctor Founder, ONE Health Services in Long Branch
Community is such an integral part of Long Branch and Mimico and what we do at ONE Health Services. We know that community IS medicine and are so excited to offer this as part of our services. Send us an email at info@onehealthservices.ca to be the first to know when registration opens for our Spring session.
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YOUR LOCAL WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
EXPERIENCE
QUALITY CARE AT
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS FAMILY DOCTORS PHYSIOTHERAPY PSYCHOLOGY & PSYCHIATRY COSMETIC MEDICINE
READ IT ONLINE AT
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Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND Founder, ONE Health Services
ONE HEALTH SERVICES
3515 Lake Shore Blvd W / 647-748-4884 www.onehealthservices.ca
WWW.MIMICOMEDICAL.COM 398 ROYAL YORK RD. 416 ∙ 201 ∙ 0836
WORKOUT ONLINE 9ROUND ETOBICOKE
3411 Lake Shore Blvd W / 647-689-6044 www.9round.ca/lakeshoreblvdetobicokeon “I love fitness and boxing and believe that excersize is the key to good health.” - Marc Foto, Franchise Owner & Etobicoke native
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COVID-19 A DOCTOR’S MESSAGE OF HOPE Throughout human history, there have been well-documented and distinct moments in time that have had a profound impact on the evolution of human thought and behaviour. The most impactful historic events defined what occupied the collective human mind during the eras that followed them. When looking at all of recorded history, the defining moments can seem innumerable, yet they are rare in occurrence during the average span of a human life. Every so often, as the records of our ancestors tell us, there are specific and revolutionary shifts in the collective human experience. These shifts are commonly described as a particular epoch or era. Epochs come and go, but their effects can be passed down to future generations and leave a profound, timeless impact. Well, folks, we have officially entered the COVID-19 era. In under four months, a SARS-type virus, first transmitted from animals to humans in the wet markets of Hubei province, China has become an unimaginably disruptive pandemic. It is a pandemic with a global footstep that continues to grow despite sweeping worldwide reforms to slow its spread. Horrific reports continue to flow from countries hit hard and early. From the forced and nondiscriminatory detention of suspected cases in China to the paucity of ventilators leaving patients helpless in Lombardy, it is difficult to stay calm. Are these ominous signs of what is yet to come to Canada, Toronto, or even Etobicoke? The answer is NO! An unabashed NO! We must refuse to believe that we are incapable of collectively adapting in a way that outsmarts the virus. In fact, the only way that we can overcome this cataclysmal threat is by banding together and evolving in a way that is well thought out, cohesive, and efficient. The COVID-19 era has been marked by widespread shut-downs of all non-essential human interactions. By examining the data from the countries first affected, it is clear that those who implemented social isolation policies early and widely mitigated the human costs, that is, relatively fewer people contracted or died from the disease. Even in Hubei province, where the virus first infected humans, Chinese authorities have managed to control the outbreak with a sweeping – some may even say a heavy-handed or thuggish – campaign of forced mass quarantine. Sadly, taking the necessary steps to tame the pandemic has come at an unprecedented economic cost. The world is essentially closed for business, as global supply chains crumble, and consumer demand for non-essential goods disappears in the distance. Globalism is on pause as we try to stem the spread of the virus, and in the meantime, families around the world will feel the impact, not least those who reside in Etobicoke-Lakeshore.
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DR. TIMOTHY KODSI
Medical Lead, Mimico Medical www.mimicomedical.com Despite the mounting threat that we face as a community, there are several reasons why we should maintain a guarded optimism; that we should believe we can mitigate both the human AND economic costs. First is our natural landscape, one that is boundless in its capacity for personal space and outdoor leisure. Open-air makes transmission of the virus from one person to another much less likely. The walkability of our town and our community’s connectedness with nature are now more valuable than ever before – at least in my living memory. Second, is our populace’s innate drive to stay up-to-date and informed about what topics are relevant and important at any given time. Across the entire socio-economic spectrum, residents of South Etobicoke exhibit a uniquely self-motivated desire for deep and sophisticated knowledge. As a result of this collective awareness, I believe that our community successfully implemented voluntary social distancing relatively early on. Furthermore, I am hopeful that this prompt, decisive shift in our behaviour will ultimately minimize the local human cost. Third, we have a robust and well-rooted tradition of small businesses dominating the local economy. As many readers are aware, some of these family businesses are passed down from one generation to the next. The local business owners and their staff have a wonderfully supportive and
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
communal relationship. At a time when globalization is experiencing severe disruption, there is a unique opportunity for small businesses to collaborate on creative ways to deliver goods and services while also ensuring the essential practice of social distancing. As opposed to multi-national conglomerates, small businesses engender familiarity. This familiarity facilitates a closer communication between these businesses and their regular patrons about policy shifts that can ensure safety and also prevent the complete collapse of the establishments that make up the identity of our town. These unique and historical attributes of South Etobicoke are an added security blanket in the war against the coronavirus when compared to other regions of the GTA. Combine this layer of security with our constitutionally-protected universal healthcare and the prudent and widespread policies implemented by all three levels of government, and we can navigate through these unimaginable times, emerging stronger and more united than ever.
Once we identify our culture’s inherent strengths, we can harness them to formulate rational, safe, and creative ways to continue stimulating local businesses. And, in doing so, we’ll reduce the toll of COVID-19 on our healthcare system, while also preserving the long-term identity of our economy. Much of the change that we end up adopting, albeit abrupt and reactionary, will translate into the long-term improvement of our society. If we are indeed to evolve effectively in the face of this age-defining crisis, then it is imperative that we establish, maintain, and share the common belief that with hope and reason, together, we can overcome anything. Dr. Timothy Kodsi is the Medical Lead at Mimico Medical, located at 398 Royal York Rd. He grew up in Mimico and is raising his family in Etobicoke. Dr. Kodsi was a recent guest on the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast where he speaks candidly about the COVID-19 crisis. Listen at www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PODCAST Amanda Kirkland claims the title of being the first human guest on the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast. First human, you ask? Yes: Molly the Chocolate Lab and ELP Brand Ambassador was our first official ‘guest’. Amanda, who was featured on the cover of March’s Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs edition, talks about her new business, Blu Concierge, and what it’s like to be a new resident of Long Branch. www.bluconcierge.ca Mark Johnson joined us to talk about the best little Ice Cream Shop in Mimico; Ed’s Real Scoop. Mark is one “cool” guy. Get it? That was an ice cream pun. He can talk for hours about his craft. In fact, we’re pretty sure he did. He got picked up as a featured guest on another podcast right after we wrapped up our episode. If you like the finer things in life, you need to go to Ed’s Real Scoop. They may just be delivering during the COVID-19 outbreak. www.edsrealscoop.com Adrian Coimbra and Andrea Turpin dropped in to lend their expertise about the real estate market in Toronto and, specifically, Mimico. This husband-wife real estate team lives in Mimico and they shared their passions about the neighbourhood with our listeners. Adrian and Andrea are as genuine as they come and we were very pleased to feature them on the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast. www.adrianandrea.com Lisa Meffe & Dr. Timothy Kodsi stopped in to promote this month’s cover feature. They’re from Mimico Medical and we had a great discussion about our healthcare system as well as an off-thecuff dialogue about COVID-19. Our conversation inspired an article by Dr. Kodsi featured in this edition in which he gives us the straight goods on the Coronavirus that’s gripping the world. Have a read and listen in on what Dr. Kodsi has to say about COVID-19 (see page 24). www.mimicomedical.com
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FAMILY LIFE WORKING FROM HOME?!
SEE OUR ONLINE CURRICULUM
Oak Learners 394 Royal York Rd. 416-820-5233
JESSICA TUMMINIERI Wife of the Publisher Mom to Luke and Jaxon
Here are some unsolicited, but hopefully useful games you can play with your kids while you try to remain productive while working from home... 1. GET YOUR KIDS TO BUILD A BOX FORT Still have that old eliptical box kicking around? Dig it up and let your kids go to town. Trust us, they’ll come up with something so creative you might just be blown away...
The best part of box fort building, you ask? It’s a kid-intensive activity, meaning you can step away with minor supervision (like when they’re using knives and stuff) and get some work done. 2. SAFETY FIRST. WEAR A HELMET. Construction workers wear helmets so it makes sense that kids building box forts should also wear them, right? Well, luckily, just about any box will make a great helmet...
Try cereal, Kleenex, or even baby wipe boxes (highly recommended for use as space helmets, of course). Enjoy hours of fun and uninterrupted work, if you’re lucky. 3. PLAY “HIDE” WITH YOUR KIDS. A lovely variation of Hide & Seek. Get your kids to hide and then go back to work. If done correctly, you’ll discover them sleeping in obscure places throughout your home, giving you ample time to draft a new sales strategy, do your taxes or finally write that manifesto...
I hope it’s obvious to our Readers that my husband totally wrote this. I’ve had my hands ful these days trying keep the boys busy and distracted from all of the Coronavirus news. To paraphrase Pastor Matthew Douglas of West Edge Church; “Our grandparents were called to war. We’re being called to the couch...with a laptop, Netflix, and high speed wifi.” I sincerely hope that you and your families remain safe and healthy and are staying at home. It’s the least we can do to slow the spread of this virus.
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LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS YOUR FUTURE IS HERE As the weather warms, many of us are finally venturing outdoors with a spring in our step and a smile on our face. With spring comes new growth signalling that, at last, a sunshine season has sprung. Time and transformation are all around us, especially in southern Etobicoke. While our community, city and country change at breath-taking speeds, more and more people are grasping at creative ways to take on life’s great undertakings. Funeral director Brad Jones wonders what stays immortal and true as we march into our bright but dimming futures. I don’t like getting old. I’m pretty sure my wife doesn’t like getting old although I’m too afraid to ask her. Yes, men and women age differently. We have different expectations from within us and around us. I agree there are powerful and way too prevalent cultural cues about “what’s hot and what’s not” affecting both sexes, especially women and girls. For example, I look forward to one day being heckled as a “silver fox” rather than whispered about as a hungry and ferocious “cougar.” If aging (i.e., not youthful) is viewed as a phenomenon to be avoided – good luck with that – is it any wonder Death is considered the worst houseguest EVER? The delusional pipe dream sounds a bit like this: “Death is a terrible intruder in our lives, affecting the people we love and cherish, but Death will eventually leave and bother someone else. And Death will never come for me.” Nope. Sadly, Death does leave. But he rarely leaves alone. Death always has someone’s hand gently grasped in his skeletal, ageless claw. Now before you shiver and shake while sitting in spring sunshine (my very own tongue twister!), there’s a lot to be gained by embracing that the meaning of life is simple: life ends. That’s the meaning, the message and the no-oneis-laughing punchline. Life is sacred because living among your people and seeking your life’s purpose will eventually, one morning, afternoon or evening, transform into something entirely different. What comes after your future has arrived and departed for the very last time? The answer is utterly unknowable, unfathomable and deliciously mysterious as it is meaningful. I hold a special place in my heart for people in
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mid-life (don’t say “Okay, Boomer” if you’re under 35, please. I am not a boomer) and elderly people, especially those old souls thumping their way through their 80s and 90s. Middle-aged people in the afternoon of their lives realize we’ll never be early-bird-morning young again. By mid-life, most of us have suffered. We’ve likely lost one or both parents. Perhaps a sibling. Maybe we’ve overcome a life-changing illness, divorce or firing. Most middle-aged men and women have a degree of humility and insight about life because there’s a dawning recognition that nothing stays the same; neither people, places nor things. (True, your in-laws will stay forever irritating.) When you’ve been burned and bulldozed by loss, we’re forced to navigate new waters and we do that by slowing down to ensure safe passage. We don’t accelerate, we navigate. By the time we’re in our 50s, those metaphorical icebergs, potholes and detours we’ve heard “old people” talk about are suddenly not someone else’s misfortune. Loss, disaster and unfairness are viewed as unapologetic and impersonal forces shaping our inner and outer landscapes. Like birth, life doesn’t negotiate. Neither does MrYou-Know-Who. Elderly people are my most influential mentors because they’re master communicators who rarely, if ever, negotiate their point of view. Their advice easily surpasses quality and quantity doled out by my middle-aged peers. Those of us in the evening of our lives are not resigned to personal misfortunes. Elderly people are not as easily tempted to define themselves according to the worst thing that has ever happened to them. Those who have lived long and fully are more accepting of life’s storms. Old people have buried parents, siblings, cousins, friends. Maybe they’ve outlived children or faced illness. They likely suffer physically and mentally as we do. (Remember, they too live in this “anti-aging” culture.) My favourite old people have grit, old-fashioned strength of character, to look back with gratitude, stay engaged by the present, and face the future
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
one step at a time. The best way I’ve ever had life explained to me was comparing the knowledge of our mortality with a cemetery bell and boxing match bell. When we know and truly accept that we’re going to die, we live more freely, fearlessly and kindly. Let’s get real. Most of what you and I are stressed out about right now won’t matter five days much less five years from now. For those who know they don’t have five years or five days to live, do you think they’re worried about politics, taxes or grudges? The willingness to acknowledge Death invites us to hear the bell not of a quiet cemetery but a roaring boxing match. We come out swinging because the match between Who You Were and Who You Want to Be starts defining the rest of your life. When I say I hate getting old, I’m joking. For the most part. My mother never had the privilege of getting old. I wished we’d had the honour of seeing her shine brightly and dim gently. Mom died at 54. My dad made it to 79. I strongly believe there are such things as good deaths. (And no, I don’t mean a $100,000 funeral although I’m always here for you, ready with my measuring tape!) A good death is born from a good life. No regrets. Lots of kindness. Family and friends who’ll keep you alive through memories, stories and laughter. When your hand is firmly, lovingly grasped and you’re being led off stage, how wonderful to know people will continue to love you, miss you and wish you were here. So why not be here now, fully present and alive, to the people who love and adore you? The people who’d truly benefit from your undivided attention and affection? And when you’re with older people (to my six children: listen up!), consider leaning in to the stories being told, the unsolicited advice offered, the rants about “when I was your age.”
As a funeral director I am reminded every day that life ends. I have sat with thousands of families shattered by loss because they loved so deeply. Those are the families I know are only temporarily broken and withered; they will grow and blossom again under sunshine rays warmed by love, life lessons and legacy. What’s immortal and true in this world is how we served and shared with others. This spring may you feel as youthful and beautiful as a new bud. May you grow as old and strong as a life-giving family tree. Brad Jones is president of locally-owned, commission-free Ridley Funeral Home (3080 Lake Shore Blvd W. in Etobicoke). As an experienced and talented insomniac, Brad loves doing late-night research about genealogy (and basketball scores). You’re always welcome to chat with Brad by calling 416.259.3705 or emailing him directly at BradJones@RidleyFuneralHome.com.
BRAD JONES
Owner, Ridley Funeral Home
YOUR HEALTH MINDFULNESS referred to as “looking into the abyss”, and for good reason - it can seem daunting and overwhelming. Now being forced into a situation where we may be alone with ourselves more than ever before, reflect on some of these ideas on mindfulness and allow it to give you some comfort in turning your vision within. The way that I think about mindfulness is simply being present. Often, mindfulness apps guide you to focus on your physical body, on things like your breathing, or different parts of your body. I came across an interesting idea in a book on the subject, that the part of you that is always in the present is your physical body. Your mind can wander into thoughts of the future, or visit memories from the past, however, your body is always in the present. Focusing on the body and being in the body keeps you in the present moment. You may think that it’s difficult (or even impossible!) to shut off that voice in your head and keep the thoughts from racing through. Experiencing that is not a failure of being mindful, it’s simply how thoughts in our minds work. With practice, you may find that refocusing on the physical body will give your mind something to focus on so that as it races, it always comes back to the present.
JONATHAN NHAN, RPh, CDE Pharmacist / @nhanjonathan903
How often have you heard the term “mindfulness” and wondered “what does that mean?”. Maybe you have started to practice mindfulness, but are wondering if you’re “doing it right”. I can share what mindfulness means to me, and share some interesting things I’ve come across. These are simply my personal thoughts on the topic. I still have more to learn, but this is where I am now. At this time, when many of us are in self-isolation and practicing social distancing, there is an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves. Hopefully you can use this short article as a wedge into the broader topic of self-reflection and personal development. Looking within ourselves has been
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Like all things, we get better with practice. We don’t learn to walk overnight. We don’t acquire skills through a direct download to our brains. We practice. Doing anything over and over again is practice. This can form good and bad habits. What will you choose to practice on a daily basis, and how will it feel when that daily practice leads to an amazing life? And as you continue to practice this mindfulness, as we ride out this storm, we will soon come out on the other side. Throughout this all, we will continue to serve our community to provide you access to the essentials that you require. Please bear with us in this unprecedented time as we navigate this situation together. Keep well, and reach out to the store team, or myself, directly if there is anything that we may be able to assist you with.
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