Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
ON THE COVER
Mike Wixson, Owner of The Pod Plant Proves the Power of Podcasting Can Help Connect Communities and Support Small Businesses
p16
NEIGHBOURHOOD SECURITY p12
Stonewall Security Offers Unique Solutions to Support Local Shops
p15
Moya Financial Outlines Why They’re More Important Than Ever in 2020
p28
Brad Jones, Funeral Director at Ridley Funeral Home Explains Why
EMERGENCY FUNDS
WE ARE NOT DOOMED
www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com
Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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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 CHRISTINE HOGARTH Principal, Lakeshore Campus; Dean, Member of Provincial Parliament, Faculty of Social & Community Services Etobicoke-Lakeshore 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 MIKE WIXSON Long Branch Resident and Operations Producer of the Etobicoke Lakeshore Manager at Lakeshore Arts Podcast & Owner of The Pod Plant 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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SUPPORTING ESSENTIAL THROUGH COVID-19 FOLLOW USSERVICES ON Ř @OFFICE146 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @OFFICE146
YOU CAN STILL EAT WELL EVEN UNDER QUARANTINE
PICK UP YOUR FAVOURITES www.tjosheasirishsnug.ca
T.J. O’SHEA’S IRISH SNUG
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416-253-5500 / INSTAGRAM: @irishsnug
TABLE OF CONTENTS MAY 2020 PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p8
HUMBER COLLEGE...p20
Shift Happens. See how the ELP and other local businesses have pivoted in reaction to COVID-19.
Derek Stockley updates us on the latest changes at Humber College Lakeshore Campus.
COMMUNITY...p10
WELLNESS...p22
Capturing the shift toward supporting essential services at Office146.
Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND has launched a series entitled, Coping with COVID. Read about it here.
ARTS & CULTURE...p13
9ROUND ETOBICOKE...p23
Quarantine has forced many to become creative. See what’s happening in the neighbourhood!
Check out what Marc Foto of Long Branch’s 9Round Fitness is doing to help folks stay fit.
GOOD NEIGHBOURS...p14
ADAPTING TO ADVERSITY...p24
Hard times bring out the best in people. Read a few feel-good stories of local folks stepping up.
Dr. Timothy Kodsi of Mimico Medical offers more words of wisdom to help during the pandemic.
EMERGENCY FUNDS...p15
TRUCKCASTING...p26
Moya Financial explains why Emergency Funds are more important in 2020 than ever.
Check out the mash-up of our new “Truckcasting” series. Ah...the beauty of remote podcasting!
ON THE COVER...p16
QUARANTINED WITH KIDS?...p27
Mike Wixson, Owner of The Pod Plant, is going out of his way to be a beacon of light in dark times.
Jessica Tumminieri speaks candidly about being confined with kids during COVID... & her husband.
FOOD & DRINK...p18
LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS...p28
From advertising to grocery delivery. Read about the brother-sister team behind Easypeasy!
Brad Jones of Ridley Funeral Home explains to our Readers why We Are Not Doomed!
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
Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE SHIFT HAPPENS hope and resilience that I was inspired to publish this edition to highlight some of the folks in our community who have gone that extra mile to help instead of hide. One of whom is a fellow by the name of Mike Wixson. Mike owns The Pod Plant; a podcasting studio in Office146 on Thirtieth St. He and I have been working very closely (well, as close as two people can work together these days) producing the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast.
ROGER TUMMINIERI
Publisher , Etobicoke Lakeshore Press
etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com @etobicokelakeshorepress Thanks for joining us again this month. I’d like to say a special hello to our new readers. I’ve made some changes to my distribution strategy and the Etobicoke Lakeshore Press is now mailed to more homes in South Etobicoke. Welcome aboard! Let me start off by saying how impressed I am by the ingenuity displayed by so many local small business owners. I know times are tough for everyone and, given the circumstances, it would be completely acceptable to crawl up in a ball and hide in the closet right about now, but that hasn’t been the case. I’m hearing so many stories of
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We started the show in-studio just before the pandemic hit. It was meant to be a weekly podcast promoting local businesses and people in the Etobicoke-Lakeshore community. Now we record remotely and are producing shows throughout the week; sometimes three a day. Mike didn’t (and doesn’t) have to do this. He’s gone above and beyond our original agreement because he is conditioned to help. He cares about the business owners and residents in the communities of South Etobicoke and continues to provide his podcast platform so we can all stay connected in a thoughtful and insightful way. I know this probably feels like a bromance novel right about now, but I assure you, if it weren’t for Mike Wixson, my business may very well have been left in the COVID-19 dust. He’s helped me elevate my brand and connect with my customers as well as Readers (now also Listeners) in a unique and captivating way (pardon the quarantine pun). Mike has contributed so much to my business
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
that I have decided to feature him on this month’s cover. But I’m not the only one Mike has helped. Several of my fellow Office146’ers are running their podcasts out of The Pod Plant. There are even ‘regular’ folks, perhaps like yourself, who have launched their own podcasts to discuss subjects near and dear to their hearts. You don’t have to be a business to have a podcast. In fact, I can see podcasting becoming a byproduct of this pandemic. Sure, hosting Zoom parties and going Live on Facebook or Instagram are cool, but none compare to the production quality you get from a proper podcast. And when I say proper, I mean producing a podcast show with a professional like Mike Wixson at The Pod Plant ensures your shows sound great and reach a wide breadth of listeners everywhere people download their podcasts. So, from the bottom of my heart (more bromance stuff), I would like to thank Mike Wixson for the time he has put in to helping my business survive and thrive during this pandemic.
We’ve also included coverage of the Home Music Festival; an event spearheaded by Humber Bay Shores Residents in support of local businesses and St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation (see page 13). And for a bit of levity, read this month’s Family Life feature; Quarantined With Kids? I hope it makes you laugh a little during these challenging times (see page 27). And last but not least, a shout-out to all the Moms on Mother’s Day! I don’t know how you do it in good times, let alone during a quarantine. God bless you - especially if you have school-aged children at home!!! On that note, thank you to my better half, Jessica, for her general and far-reaching awesomeness. She’s holding down the fort with Jax and Luke while I hide away in my truck to record podcasts. #bestwifeever #supermom #oneluckyguy Thanks for reading and I hope you’re all okay and adjusting to life under quarantine.
In this edition, we’ve also included some feelgood stories about local people doing great things for others in the neighbourhood. Read our Good Neighbours feature on page 14. The ever-insightful Dr. Timothy Kodsi from Mimico Medical joins us once again with his COVID-19 commentary (see page 24). To quote Dr. Kodsi: “Adversity is another form of opportunity.”
Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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COMMUNITY ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES
As a co-working space catering primarily to local entrepreneurs, many of whom have since been forced to work from home, we at Office146 have shifted to provide operating space to a number of essential services. Stonewall Security Services Inc. is one such business that’s operating at full steam. In fact, Stonewall has ramped up its hiring to meet the growing demand for security services. They’re a locally-owned outfit and are offering unique shared security services to support local small businesses. 647-546-9978 / info@stonewallsecurity.net www.stonewallsecurity.net ORCA Clinic Our in-house doctor, Dr. Imad Salim and his team have been working hard to create a virtual clinic, Ontario Rapid COVID-19 Assessment (ORCA).
The site has been created to assist with patient assessments and relieve the pressure on our public health system when it’s needed the most. ORCA Clinic is also set up to support the public with services like prescription refills and assistance with anxiety. Dr. Iman Salim and Hakim Osman recently joined us on a our Office146 Podcast produced by one of our very own, Mike Wixson at The Pod Plant. You can find our show at www.ThePodPlant.com. www.orcaclinic.ca / info@orcaclinic.ca
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
TALKING TO STRANGERS. THE NEW NORMAL. As kids, we’re taught that strangers could be bad people and that we should not talk to them under any circumstances. As an adult, reaching out to new people has the potential to do you more good than harm. It helps us expand our network and build relationships with other people. Giving the gift of our attention to people that we know, and those we don’t, is not only generous, it empowers us as well as the person with whom we are talking. This question sounds different when asked in today’s climate – and it offers a general concern for others: How are you? You don’t know what a rare feeling it is to be asked that and in particular by a complete stranger. Well it’s happened to me twice recently when out for one of my solo dog walks around the neighbourhood. Especially at this time with all the instructions and pressure to “social distance” - human connection is very important - even a conversation between
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strangers on the sidewalk and someone sitting on their front porch. So, I say: “Thank You...” To the couple on Daisy Avenue sitting outside with their Saturday coffee – thanks for striking up a conversation with me. To the lady on Birmingham Avenue on her apartment balcony with her 12 year old Yorkie – thanks for asking where I had Ticket groomed to start a conversation (while she was looking for a spot to mark on your front lawn). To the pregnant girl on O’Donnell Avenue I dropped some masks off for, for striking up a conversation over Facebook where we both got to know a bit about each other. To both the lady on her balcony on Laburnham Avenue and the Golden Retriever’s owner in Laburnham Park both asking how I was - from a distance, of course. There couldn’t be a better way to say welcome to the neighbourhood. AMANDA KIRKLAND amanda@bluconcierge.ca / www.bluconcierge.ca
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
Christine
HOGARTH MPP ETOBICOKE –LAKESHORE
T H E H E A LT H A N D W E L L - B E I N G OF ONTARIANS IS THE GOVERNMENT’S TOP PRIORITY
ontario.ca/coronavirus
PREVENTION
HOW BEST TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY Stay home and avoid contact with others.
Only visit an assessment centre if referred by a health care professional.
Keep surfaces clean and disinfected.
Cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue. Dispose of tissue immediately and wash your hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
We send weekly updates, if you would like to be kept informed please sign up for my e-newsletter at
christinehogarthmpp.ca My constituency office staff are available for your phone calls and emails. We are here to support you as information is changing daily, even hourly.
416-259-2249 • christine.hogarth@pc.ola.org
COMMUNITY NEIGHBOURHOOD SECURITY It’s no secret there have been break-ins along the Lakeshore. They happen at the best of times. Now that most local businesses are closed due to the quarantine, there’s an elevated level of concern over the security of small businesses across the country and right here at home. But how does the small business owner who has been forced to shut down afford security services? This is a question that Ryan Manwar, a resident of Long Branch and owner of Stonewall Security Services Inc., wrestles with daily. “I live here and I care about his community, the businesses, and the people who run them,” explains Manwar. “If I can help in any way to provide them with peace of mind and save them money, that’s what I’m going to do.” Among other solutions, Stonewall Security offers a Mobile Patrol where guards will secure a given area, like a group of businesses along Lake Shore or Royal York, for example. The cost is then shared among those participating which drives down the price while increasing peace of mind among small business owners at a time when they need it the most. Mobile Patrols can also be supported by roving security vehicles and are flexible in terms of coverage areas, including back alleys and residential.
STONEWALL SECURITY
Headquartered at Office146, Stonewall Security offers unique security solutions for small businesses
Are you worried about vandalism or have other security concerns? Contact Ryan Manwar, owner of Stonewall Security and Long Branch Resident at 647-546-9978 / info@stonewallsecurity.net
LONG BRANCH ROCKS OF HOPE A few weeks ago a friend sent me some pictures taken of hand-painted rocks along Long Branch’s waterfront declaring motivational messages, like: Hold On, Stay Home, and We can Beat This. There is also a series of Rock Sculptures of Hope that were created from carefully selected and balanced segments of Dundas Shale. Powerful, metaphoric and deeply symbolic, these poetic ‘Inukshuks’ of Lake Ontario’s rock are a proclamation that each one of us matters and that we must support each other with rock hard solidarity during times of adversity. Inspiring windows from residents and businesses have also popped up to thank the unheralded, demanding and sacrificial work of The Frontline Workers. To all our Frontline Men and Women, I salute you.
BILL ZUFELT
Long Branch Resident and Chair of the History & Culture Committee Long Branch Neighbourhood Association bill.zufelt@lbna.ca
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
ARTS & CULTURE CREATIVE IN QUARANTINE “And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art,...” I’m sure some of you have read the viral poem, written by Kitty O’Meara. We are living in a time of unprecedented change, and as the world stays home, one universal truth has emerged: people need the arts. LSA has always held this belief; we know that communities are stronger when creativity thrives. While our office and Community Project Space remain closed, we are continuing our work behind the scenes to explore ways to adapt programming for our new virtual reality, likewise ensuring that we can continue to employ and pay our talented artist facilitators who have been collaborating with the team. The approach has been thoughtful, slowing down to reflect on what methods we can use that will best serve the community, and make it accessible, safe, and meaningful. LSA’s two choir programs, the Mimico Children’s Choir and the Local Vocal adult choir, began virtual rehearsals and online musical gatherings for registered participants in April and are planning a virtual concert for this month. Visit our website and follow us on social media for more info. Stay safe, neighbours!
NATASSIA MORRIS
Operations Manager, Lakeshore Arts
and Long Branch Resident 2422 Lake Shore Blvd W / 416-201-7093 @lakeshorearts / www.lakeshorearts.ca
RAISING SPIRITS & $ IN HUMBER BAY SHORES Covid-19? Definitely not top of mind on the evening of Friday, April 24th when people virtually came together to de-stress and have some real fun attending the Home Music Fest! Close to 10,000 people reached out to safely view virtual musical performances from the comfort of their homes all while supporting local Humber Bay Shores Businesses and St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation. Local businesses were offered free ads during the night in exchange for a donation to the hospital. Viewers were also encouraged to support the hospital throughout the event, bringing total donations so far up to $2,245! Great talent featured the Half Decent band who proved themselves WAY more than Half Decent, Juno award-winning “King of Swing” Bob DeAngelis Entertainment Inc., event performer Brent Miller LIVE, famous violinist/entertainer G Pinto and one of the most sought after DJ’s in the industry - DJ Armo Kidd - for a balcony dance party at the end of the show. Positive comments and video reactions were continuously pouring in from viewers who mentioned dancing while cooking, singing along to their favourite tunes and more. One viewer mentioned “Life is beautiful, we
have this bump in the road right now and connecting like this is the next best option!” The event was created with love by local residents of the Waterview Explorer Condo in Humber Bay Shores and by their accounts, was a huge success. It achieved their objectives to raise spirits and help support those in need at this time. In fact, they can’t wait to do more! Re-watch the video and find out details on how to donate at: www.facebook.com/HomeMusicFestHB. ALISON VERGE Resident of Humber Bay Shores
Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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GOOD NEIGHBOURS KINDNESS AMID COVID Lakeshore Moms Making a Difference Disturbed by the recent desperate cries for help by our local Salvation Army Food Bank, Lakeshore Mom and Long Branch resident Tanya Delorey wanted to take action to help them in some way during these uncertain times. With some brainstorming, she and fellow Lakeshore Mom, Francesca Slocombe, came up with an idea to motivate everyone to help and stay safe at the same time. On March 28th, the Neighbourhood Food Bank Challenge was launched on the Lakeshore Mom’s Facebook page. In one short week the communities of Mimico, New Toronto, Alderwood and Long Branch battled it out to outdo one another in donations of non-perishables or money to see which neighbourhood would walk away with bragging rights.
onesie, took a selfie, and submitted it to our Facebook group and announced ‘Day 1 of social isolation.’ I asked for others to share their own isolation selfies, and it caught on.” “You see a lot of the same people in the comment section every day sharing a picture of themselves with their coffee, their pet, their work station,” Krowiak continues. “It’s really nice sharing these little moments with each other when so many of us are at home, alone, without someone to connect with. South Etobicoke is a vibrant community and I am humbled by the fact that something as silly as a selfie has touched so many people.” Find the South Etobicoke Group on Facebook.
In the end, Alderwood won the title. A total close to $5000 was raised by all of neighbourhoods for the Salvation Army Food Bank. The Lakeshore Salvation Army Food Bank was the real winner in all of this and we had a chance to ask Mallory Cochrane about the Food Bank and what working there in these times has meant. Up next, Tanya Delorey, and fellow Lakeshore Mom residents Lani Krantz and Jackie Goodman have joined forces to help small businesses in the area. A Neighbourhood Challenge is set to launch on the Lakeshore Mom’s Facebook page. In the meantime, the trio is working to launch a Lakeshore Small Business Directory. The directory will outline what each business offers and what COVID-19 safety precautions are being used to ensure their customers can shop with confidence. Find the Lakeshore Moms Group on Facebook. South Etobicoke Facebook Group Admin Nominated as a Good Neighbour for Antics “I’ve been part of the administration team of the South Etobicoke Facebook group for going on a year this summer,” explains Kristen Krowiak. “I’ve had the honour to meet some truly wonderful people on there, many of whom are now dearly loved friends that I can’t imagine my life without. When work sent Krowiak home to set up her office remotely, she was grateful. She knew she couldn’t handle isolation well (she worked from home for three months in 2019 and hated every minute of it). So Krawiak knew that she had to do something different this time to help motivate her and keep herself focused on something happy. “It was an easy thing to do and I didn’t realize that I was “starting something” at the time,” she tells the ELP. “I just thought I was being goofy. I threw on a
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Mimico Residents Association Members Supporting Local Businesses James Stack is a local Mimico resident and a board member of the Mimico Residents Association (MRA). He and his soon-to-be wife, Clare, moved to Mimico 2 years ago from the Queen West neighbourhood in search of a quieter community but still within proximity of the downtown core. This is Stack’s first year as a board member for the MRA and right as they began planning for the year, the COVID-19 pandemic turned their world, and everyone else’s, upside down. The MRA Board began brainstorming ideas, over Zoom of course, to help the community and residents navigate these challenging times. It struck Stack that now more than ever, the small businesses and organization that make Mimico a unique and desirable place to live, needed their support. “We wanted to do something to show our community spirit,” Stack explains. “That led to the creation of a video series we’ve launched on our media platforms to showcase the stories of our local businesses and organizations and how this pandemic has effected the way they operate. Our goal is to bring awareness and illustrate the ways we can help ensure the survival of our small businesses, an integral part of our community.” Watch the videos at www.mimicoresidents.ca and on Instagram @mimicoresidentsassociation.
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
MOYA FINANCIAL EMERGENCY FUNDS
Why an Emergency Fund is More Important Than Ever in 2020
With the current economic uncertainties caused by COVID-19, people are talking about emergency funds now more than ever. Although one can truly never prepare for a global pandemic, saving as much money as your budget allows can provide an essential safety net for when things get tough. Here are four things you need to know about emergency funds and how you can build yours. What’s an emergency fund? An emergency fund is money set aside to pay for unexpected expenses. Acting as a financial safety net, it is a critical part of financial planning and helps you prepare for unexpected expenses while limiting the risk of becoming dependent on credit cards or loans. What qualifies as an emergency? An emergency fund is different than a regular savings account, which you may use for everyday expenses or planned purchases like a new car or a vacation. An emergency fund is designed to protect you during: - Economic uncertainty - Job loss - Urgent home and car repairs - Medical expenses/medical leave - Unplanned/emergency travel How much money should you save? According to the Government of Canada, 64% of Canadians have an emergency fund that covers three months’ worth of expenses. Although there is no set recommended amount, the money allocated to your emergency fund should be designed around your current economic situation and should limit you from feeling any immediate financial duress if you’re suddenly faced with unexpected expenses. Though it varies by personal circumstances, most experts recommend you have three to six months worth of expenses on hand in an account that you can access quickly and easily. How should you build and use an emergency fund? To kick off your emergency fund, start saving according to your annual income. It may take a while to get to your ideal amount and that’s okay! If you’re just starting out, especially in these trying times, it’s better to start small, whether it’s 10, 20, or 60 dollars a month.
Here are some ways you can build your fund: - Look at your current finances and separate what are essential and non-essential expenses - Create a monthly budget that works for you by setting aside a certain amount of money per paycheque. - Make sure all your bills and debts are paid promptly to limit high-interest fees or collection. - Open a tax-free savings account, a high-interest savings account or a debit account like Moya’s No-Fee Chequing Account to help eliminate temptation and keep your emergency fund distinct from your regular funds. Emergency funds should be highly liquid, so be sure to choose an account that allows you to access your money very quickly should you need it. Need to dip into your emergency fund? Before you use some or all your funds, try determining the urgency of your situation and whether you are experiencing a real emergency or if it’s something you can put off. If it is, in fact, an emergency, don’t hesitate to use it. Due to the surge of job losses and economic uncertainties during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to bolster your emergency fund. Whether you have a long-established fund or are just starting to build one, it’s a good idea to regularly assess your expenses and see if there’s more you can put aside for a rainy day. To learn more about the ways we can help you plan for your financial future, contact us today! This article is not intended to provide financial or financial planning advice, please come visit Moya Financial in person at their main branch located at 747 Brown’s Line and they will be more than happy to meet and chat in person.
Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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COVER STORY HOW MIKE WIXSON IS PROVING THE It took a pandemic to push me back onto social media. In fact, it’s forced me to re-think my entire business. Hence the cover story for this edition. Like many of you, I’m now up against the ropes. But I’m fighting back. As a publisher of print media, I’ve always been a bit behind the curve, so to speak. But as we all sit at home to try to flatten a different curve, new opportunities have arisen. For me, and I would suspect for many of you as well, I’ve pivoted. I’ve shifted from print to podcasting in a heartbeat and I’m not looking back. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll continue to print the Etobicoke Lakeshore Press, but I’ve added something pretty special (and powerful) into the mix... Podcasting! As someone with no prior appetite for podcasts, I now swear by them. I launched the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast with the help of Mike Wixson, owner of The Pod Plant; a state-of-the-art podcast studio located on the second floor of Office146 on Thirtieth Street, just north of Lake Shore. Mike approached me with the idea to produce a podcast and I jumped on it. The plan was to record a weekly show in-studio to add value to my ad partners by helping them cast a wider net and reach a broader audience. After the pandemic hit, our show has turned into a twice, sometimes thrice-daily affair with guests ranging from a craft brewery owner, a pastor, and a funeral director, to leaders in the arts as well as elected officials from all three levels of government for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. I’m generally a sceptical person, but I’m sold on podcasts. And it’s all because of Mike Wixson. Podcasting (especially remotely these days) is an incredibly cost-effective way to engage your customer base, ingratiate existing clients, and position yourself as a thought leader in your respective field. Not to say I’m a thought leader, but a guy can dream. Oh...and it’s a heck of a lot of fun. Your guests will be impressed and see you in a whole different (hopefully brighter) light! Podcasting is helping my customers and I do more, reach more, and say more. In just a couple of months, we have recorded twenty two episodes of the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast. So far, the show has earned close to 20,000 views on YouTube alone, with a subscriber base that’s growing weekly. Podcasting is proving to be a powerful tool for me as I shift my business to react to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to Mike Wixson, I’ve been able to add a new dimension to my publication.
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As many of you sit at home wondering when or if things will go back to normal (and I would suggest they won’t, at least in terms of our former definition of the term), I would encourage you to consider how podcasting could add value to your job or business. It’s a great way to connect to those with whom you’re not currently connected; your customers, your prospects, your industry. At a time when the handshake may very well be dead and remote meetings have become the status quo, adding a podcast to your mix could be a very wise decision. If you don’t see a direct correlation between your work and podcasting, that’s ok, too. The Pod Plant has a roster of shows that are hosted by regular folks; not for business purposes. They launched their podcasts as a way to tap into a specific interest of theirs or a subject for which they have a lot of passion. Case in point is the show, The Awakener. You can find it at www.ThePodPlant.com. It’s provocative, to say the least. If there’s a glimmer of a childhood dream in you trying to shine its light through the cracks of your adult responsibilities and routines, you owe it to yourself to get in touch with your inner podcaster, especially now that you have more time on your hands. Try a few remote podcasts with Mike and see how you like it. Trust me. You’ll love it! As a co-host and producer of the ELPod (that’s what we call it), Mike basically does all the work. I introduce our guests and he does all the heavy lifting. Basically, Mike makes me look smart. Since I’ve run out of quiet places in my home to podcast (we have 2 boys and 2 dogs), I’ve been recording our shows from my truck. I’ve coined a new term: Truckcasting! I think it’s got legs :) So if you’re looking for an escape (I mean additional revenue stream or personal outlet), try your hand at podcasting. Personally, I can’t wait for someone to launch the quarantine-inspired “Momcast”. Just imagine the endless supply of content. If my life is any indication, my wife would have plenty to talk about!
...
THE POD PLANT
146 Thirtieth Street, Suite 230 Mike Wixson mike@thepodplant.com www.thepodplant.com @thepodplant 647-344-0888
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
E POWER OF PODCASTING.
By: Roger Tumminieri
MIKE WIXSON
Owner of The Pod Plant www.ThePodPlant.com
Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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FOOD & DRINK EASYPEASY DELIVERY
Need groceries? Call the Mimico-based brother-sister team (somerton creative) who's design studio is on hiatus due to the quarantine. Jamie and Felicia Somerton decided to use their time and resources to be part of the solution and provide grocery delivery kits at a time when this service is in high demand. Through their working relationship with Gambles via somerton creative,
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they’ve been able to source fresh produce direct from their distribution centre. Easypeasy’s Fresh Essentials Kit sells for $70 with customizations for gluten-free, eggs or tofu, and pasta preferences (delivered with no extra charge). Try their new Dairy Essentials Kit, which adds black beans and lentils to the existing kit. www.eateasypeasy.com @easypeasyto
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
SHIFT HAPPENS WHO’S DOING WHAT
T.J. O’SHEA’S IRISH SNUG
F45 Training LongBranchTO
Now offering ‘Pandemic Pick-Up’, O’Shea’s is still cookin’ up a storm with new menu options to quash your quarantine woes.
Live Stream Classes 2X Daily via Zoom 7:30 am and 5:30 pm during the week and 9:30 on weekends. On Demand workouts also available!
STONEHOOKER BREWING COMPANY
Once Upon A Child Etobicoke
Business is booming at Stonehooker Brewing thanks to their innovative curbside pick-up and delivery services. Drink local.
From closing up shop to opening an online store through Instagram, OUAC is working hard to shift. Stay tuned to see what’s coming next!
CHEVAPS
signature dish
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 College Lakeshore campus is peaceful and quiet right now, but behind the scenes, our staff and students have been working hard. The decision to close Humber campuses in March has led to a transition to online and remote learning for our students. Lakeshore is embracing the change. We are committed to the safety of our community and the success of our students during these uncertain times. We are also committed to engaging you, the greater Lakeshore community. From dramatic plays to fashion shows, students and staff’s hard work and performances are still accessible online through the Humber College website. Our radio station, Radio Humber, continues to broadcast 24/7. Since our upgrades to the on-campus station, students and volunteers have had the ability to program shows and music from wherever they happen to be. They have been recording live performances by students in the Humber College music programs, which you can hear on 96.9 FM or at radio.humber.ca.
The hardworking crew at Radio Humber are looking for community input and content - from you! It could be a message of thanks to COVID-19 frontline workers recorded on your phone or you can send in public service announcements. If you’d rather stay behind the scenes, feel free to send Radio Humber your show or interview ideas. If you would like to participate, please email the station manager Dean Sinclair at: dean.sinclair@humber.ca Without any on-campus activity to share as we have in previous newsletters, we are turning our attention to curating a list of ways the Humber community is living, working, and busying themselves at home. The campaign, called #HumberAtHome shows some innovative ways the campus community is connecting while practicing physical distancing. We are also running an Instagram and Twitter campaign. You can find us at @humberlakeshore, where we regularly post pictures and stories to build and connect with the Lakeshore community.
RADIO HUMBER
Continues to broadcast 24/7. Listen in at 96.9 FM and radio.humber.ca
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
HUMBER LAKESHORE CAMPUS
Photo Credit: Weihao Zhao, student in the Bachelor of International Development program One initiative we’re excited to share is HelloGram. You can submit a short video you’d like to share with another person. It could be a brief message or a simple hello. We will share them on our Instagram story for you to see and engage with. Have you been missing your friends and neighbours during this time of isolation? This is the perfect way to reach out to each other while we can’t physically be together.
focused on ways in which our faculty and staff are adapting to being at home. If you’re interested in being on the list, drop me an email at: derek.stockley@humber.ca
In the meantime, I encourage everyone to continue staying safe and healthy. I can’t wait until we are all together again, whether crossing paths while walking on our campus or at one of the community events that will mean so much more when I would also like to invite you to join our e-news- we finally come together again. letter if you are interested in hearing more about DEREK STOCKLEY what’s happening here at the Lake. Principal, Lakeshore Campus Normally the newsletter is focused on activities happening on campus, but this month we are
Senior Dean, Faculty of Social and Community Services
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WELLNESS COPING WITH COVID
DR. MELANIE DECUNHA, ND Naturopathic Doctor Founder, ONE Health Services in Long Branch
Like many people, these past couple weeks have not been all home workouts, Netflix binge and home improvements. They’ve been filled with chaos, change and uncertainty. For whoever needs to hear this today - it’s OKAY to not check something off your to-do list. It’s okay if you need a few days to just sit with your feelings. Your worth is not defined by your productivity. You are a human being. Not a human doing. During these wildly unpredictable times, we have been listening closely to the needs of our community. We have heard your worries over your health, loved ones, jobs and finances. Over having to go to work on the front lines, knowing you’re putting yourself and family at risk. Over learning how to home school your children while juggling working from home. We have heard your uncertainty about what your future now holds.
At this time, we are also offering pro bono visits to front line workers. In addition, if you have been laid off or financially impacted by COVID-19, we are offering our telemedicine services on a sliding scale rate. Thank you for continuing to support us with your appointments, referrals and purchases. While we don’t know what the future holds, we are determined to stand strong and be here in the way you know of us when this crisis subsides. Wishing you and your loved ones and safe and healthy time. Please contact us at info@onehealthservices.ca to book your pro bono or sliding scale visit. Regular virtual visits can be booked online at www.onehealthservices.janeapp.com.
While we don’t have a magic wand to make this situation go away, we would like to do our part to support our community in whatever way we can. We are still delivering essential care to our community with counselling, naturopathic medicine & nutrition services available via telemedicine.
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ONE HEALTH SERVICES
3515 Lake Shore Blvd W / 647-748-4884 www.onehealthservices.ca
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
YOUR LOCAL WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS EXPERIENCE
QUALITY CARE AT
9Round Etobicoke Join Marc Foto and his team from your local 9Round gym in Long Branch as they shift their workouts online. Get fit (physically & mentally) in the comfort of your own home. Workouts are available for non-members as well, so grab the kids and a laptop and check out: 9round.ca/fitness/etobicoke-on-lake-shore-blvd
COPING WITH COVID SERIES HEALTH TIPS TO HELP NAVIGATE YOUR
“NEW NORMAL” Join us on Instagram @onehealthservices
ONE HEALTH SERVICES
3515 Lake Shore Blvd W / 647-748-4884 www.onehealthservices.ca
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS FAMILY DOCTORS PHYSIOTHERAPY PSYCHOLOGY & PSYCHIATRY COSMETIC MEDICINE WWW.MIMICOMEDICAL.COM 398 ROYAL YORK RD. 416 ∙ 201 ∙ 0836
NEW AT HOME WORKOUTS 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 ADAPTING TO ADVERSITY At the time of writing this article for the Etobicoke Lakeshore Press, to be quite frank, not much has changed – we’re still in lockdown. The global economy continues to produce at a fraction of its potential due to the impact of social isolation. This is no less apparent in our local community, where we have seen multitudes of small businesses lock their doors and shutter their windows. The coronavirus continues to dominate the focus of households, healthcare centres and the media alike, and it is becoming more obvious that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will be long-lasting or, more likely, create a new normal. As concerned citizens, we are inundated with predictive models, statistics about cases and deaths, as well as with the opinions of mainstream news sources, healthcare experts and political leaders alike. It is simply exhausting to try and consolidate the endless stream of information and predictions to create a cohesive stream of thought about where we currently stand. If you ask me, that’s because nobody really does know what the future has in store. The uncertainty affects each individual differently, and we are learning to adapt our own tailored coping mechanisms to this new reality. Now for the good news. Humankind (or what some would call ‘peoplekind’) is in fact adapting. Small businesses in the South Etobicoke community are taking the time off not to wallow away in their grief, but rather to regroup and adapt to the changing marketplace. Through my discussions with local business owners, they are formulating creative ways to deliver the products and services that we miss so much in ways that uphold the tenets of social distancing. Restaurants have started to quickly implement delivery/curbside pick-up services. Supermarkets have created systems to ensure social distancing within their grocery aisles. Corporate firms have increasingly relied on the technological blessings we currently have to operate within remote models. Furthermore, testing for symptomatic or exposed citizens is becoming increasingly more available and accurate. At Mimico Medical, we have completely re-examined our model of care, one in which we help reduce, or even eliminate, the spread of disease in healthcare centres while also ensuring the quality of care is upheld, or even improved. We have quickly integrated remote methods of ordering/ receiving tests and reports while also sending prescriptions to our patient’s desired pharmacies electronically. Our physicians and staff are working diligently at home calling/videoconferencing with our patients, and designating fixed teams or a doctor and nurse to be present physically on their designated day for essential visits should the need arise. In doing so, we are physically distancing from each other, so that if one of us gets infected, the whole clinic does not need to shut down because of it. We’re also starting to redevelop
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DR. TIMOTHY KODSI
Medical Lead, Mimico Medical www.mimicomedical.com remote models of Psychiatric, Psychological, and Physiotherapeutic care for our patients. In general, we are being creative in handling this current dilemma, but we believe this model of care can become exemplary and sustainable in the postCOVID era. This is our way of turning adversity into an opportunity to improve the way we care for and protect the health of our patients. Ultimately, this should become the mantra of humankind as we navigate through these unprecedented times. The foundation of resiliency is based on the belief that through the gift of human innovation we can overcome any challenge. To make this resilience collective, we need to think about our community before ourselves, we need to be patient with each other’s style of coping and we must use this new-found time, work aside, to enrich our lives in creative and productive ways. As for the reported statistics, I encourage our community to pay no mind to the specifics. We know what we need to do. Statistics this early on in the evolution of a new disease are notoriously inaccurate and therefore uninformative. Science will continue to develop more helpful tests for upstarting our economy, ones that can detect immunity to the virus, thereby creating a population profile that can ensure a safe return to work. Furthermore, there is hope that we will one day develop a vaccine or a medication to further decrease the burden of the coronavirus on our society.
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For now, let’s all shift out focus to structure and routine, which I consider pivotal during this time of mass unemployment. Individuals should create schedules that incorporate time for education, physical activity, spirituality, leisurely reading/ listening, creative arts and spending time with family that was not possible just several weeks ago. In doing so, we will ensure that these difficult times were all for not, and that as our populace re-integrates into society, the sum of all parts is greater than what it was before the coronavirus pandemic. The internet is full of resources, such as Khan Academy or Khan Academy for Kids for learning, or the MoodGym website for cognitive behavioural therapy, or www.darebee.com for a multitude of home exercise programs that require no equipment. The beautiful outdoors in South Etobicoke is for our taking, albeit as we continue to avoid touching surfaces, keeping our social distance, and wearing masks to protect others. We should support our small businesses that are trying to stay afloat, by trying to embrace and indulge in the new ways that they are trying to serve our community. Finally, we should try our best to stay hopeful and happy.
Spring is upon us, the days are longer and sunnier, and the weather will soon be perfectly refreshing. Let’s keep our minds busy on the state of our mind, body and souls, rather than the state of the world. If we all embrace this collective approach of a healthy self-indulgence, the by-product will be a seamless reinvigoration of our society in ways that are positively unimaginable. 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
LISTEN NOW
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE
PODCAST www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com
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GUESTS Susan Nagy, Natassia Morris Lakeshore Arts
GUEST Derek Stockley, Principal Humber College Lakeshore
GUEST Ross Noel, Owner Stonehooker Brewing Co.
GUESTS Brad Jones, Shannon Leahy Ridley Funeral Home
GUEST Kelly Farrell, Owner Oak Learners
GUEST Jennifer Bazar, Curator Interpretive Centre
GUEST Matthew Douglas, Pastor West Edge Church
GUEST GUEST Alison Juda, Coordinator Councillor Mark Grimes Ward 3 Etobicoke-Lakeshore Mimico-by-the-Lake BIA
GUEST Jonathan Nhan, Pharmacist Shoppers Drug Mart
THE ELPOD NOW WE’RE TRUCKCASTING!
LISTEN NOW & SUBSCRIBE www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com/Podcast
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FAMILY LIFE QUARANTINED WITH KIDS?
SEE OUR ONLINE CURRICULUM
Oak Learners 394 Royal York Rd. 416-820-5233
JESSICA TUMMINIERI Wife of the Publisher Mom to Luke and Jaxon
I’m not sure how you’re fairing at this point of the quarantine, but Roger and I are now building our own box forts to hide from our kids.
our little angel, Luke, would point to his, well...you know, and yell “Balls!”. This is what happens when you marry a rugby player.
Roger says he has a lot more work to do than normal because of the pandemic, so he disappears daily. He spends a lot of time in his truck, just sitting there in the driveway. He says he’s podcasting (or “Truckcasting”), but I’m not sure that’s true. He spends a lot of time in that truck. I think his accountant is going to have to write it off as office space come tax season.
Or the time when Jaxon decided to paint his own room. Yes, you read that correctly. We were wondering why his clothes were all stained and there were little footprints of white paint all over the floor. Now we know.
All joking aside, the quarantine is a blessing in disguise for our family. It’s giving us all more time to spend together and Roger gets to experience those cherished moments that he’d otherwise miss if he was at his office or visiting with his customers. Like the time when I was singing the On Top of Spaghetti song and every time I said “meatball”,
Being confined, I mean trapped, I mean held captive with my husband has also been an eye-opening experience. In a good way. I think. I find making fun of my husband helps to keep me sane. I’m not sure what affect it has on his mental health, but it seems to be working alright for me. Hoping you and your family are weathering the storm and coping as best you can under quarantine, especially if you have kids.
You can’t make this stuff up. Are you quarantined with kids? Share your funny family quarantine stories with our Readers. Email us at etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com Laughter is the best medicine!
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LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS WE ARE NOT DOOMED The other day a friend was telling me about Year of Wonders, a novel inspired by the true account of how a tiny English town helped stop the bubonic plague. In 1665, the villagers of Eyam could see how contagious the disease was. Their loved ones were dying. Their elderly were vulnerable. Their newborns in danger. Deciding to carry the risk together and lessen harm to others, villagers built a circle of stones around their town. Coins were left on top of the stones each day so merchants and tradespeople could drop off food and supplies. For months no one was allowed to leave the town. And no one new was allowed in. Life stopped so life could go on. (Are you starting to see where I’m going? Remember, this is a history lesson not a Disney movie. Get ready...) The villagers were struck down by the plague. The young and the old died in the company of those they knew. People died in the arms of those who loved them. I have no interest in reading Year of Wonders despite my friend’s reassurances that both the history books and the novel celebrate the English villagers’ bravery and sacrifice. The townspeople’s actions helped slow the spread of the disease all across 17th-century England. The majority of Eyam’s citizens didn’t live, but they didn’t die alone. Unlike today. As a funeral director my experience with COVID-19 is both different and similar to yours. Our morgue is not overflowing, yet we’re warned it might be. Those elusive hospital protective supplies, like gowns, masks, shields and gloves, are mandatory at our funeral home, too. My staff must come to work each day, as I do. And they must return to their families each evening: safe, healthy and infection-free. I am not a stranger to death. I’ve dedicated my life to helping the living by taking care of their dead. But this current global unfolding of the dead going unnoticed, uncelebrated and unseen is bringing me to my knees. As of mid-April, what now constitutes a funeral – no mass, no visitation, no reception – is limited to a brief gathering of no more than 10 people. There’s no hugging, handshaking, passing of tissues or sandwiches. There are no secret social smokers huddled outside. No not-so-secrets sips of whiskey.
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My staff and I are no longer able to watch, unobserved, as family and friends giggle in corners and tell stories about the deceased. There are no bridges built, no fences mended, no family feuds healed, no community promises of casseroles and camaraderie. In these transformative times, there are tears at our funerals but there is no laughter. Today, the only expressions on faces at funerals are varying states of fear. Yet the expressions of the bereaved are utterly unreadable. They are living through a surreal and unnatural funeral after exclusion from their loved one’s surreal and unnatural death. I am gutted knowing that people are dying alone in hospitals and nursing homes, unable to see their loved ones; their family unable to hold vigil, offer comfort and say goodbye. And I am devastated – bordering on outraged and ranting – that we have families in our midst, now and for a long, long time, who’ll be shellshocked by loss, grief, isolation and trauma because of how their loved one’s life dimmed alone and went out forever while the world was on fire. We cannot build a circle of stones to protect us. Nor can we gather to cry, celebrate and offer comfort (and visits) to the bereaved and devastated. So how are we not to feel doomed? This shared proximity to death can inspire in us what inspired the villagers of Eyam: courage, community, character and the common good. Each of us right now, like it or not, is being transformed by waves of crushing change. Today we are being forced to look within and evaluate what matters and what doesn’t. We can choose to feel doomed and stay passive and closed off. Or we can choose to look for ways we are linked and connected to each other as a community, country and species. We can more deeply love and appreciate the people we’re with. We can practise social distancing as if the lives of our most precious loved ones are in the balance. We can feel and show gratitude for ourselves and others. And we can reclaim our childhood sense of curiosity and openness as this new season thaws and pushes us downriver and into deeper waters. Pretending we are “fine” or acting as if we are
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
strong and invincible are instincts of love. So often when we’re in pain and fear we put on a mask to make those around us feel better – the dying and bereaved are the traditional masters at denying the new world they see and feel. Now is the time to be real and authentic, kind and good. More aligned with what is the very best and deepest within us. All of us right now, from the most obnoxious to the most saintly, are suffering on some level. Whether the 17th-century or the 21st-century, doom always makes the sinister promise that there is no hope and no better tomorrow. We are not doomed. We are sad and frightened because we are connected in spirit. This pandemic will pass. We will be changed. And one of our many burdens will be to remember and acknowledge the tens of thousands of souls who faced their next chapter alone. Let us show up for their families when this nightmare is over. Let us assure the bereaved that their loved one’s light is remembered.
Brad Jones is president of locally-owned, commission-free Ridley Funeral Home (3080 Lake Shore Blvd West) in Etobicoke. What we are doing to keep our bereaved families safe, as well as our staff and community, can be found on our website. You’re always welcome to chat with Brad by calling 416.259.3705 or emailing him at: BradJones@RidleyFuneralHome.com
BRAD JONES
Owner, Ridley Funeral Home
YOUR HEALTH PERSPECTIVE IS POWERFUL The great thing is, if you don’t like it, you can always change your perspective back. For myself, I have seen plenty of positivity come out of this situation and I would love to share some of those things with you. I have seen great caring in our Long Branch Community. I see it every day from the members of our store team who come in to work and have been flowing with all the changes as they come. The roles and duties for our team members have changed and all are playing their part in keeping us operational, sanitized, and healthy. I see it in the customer interactions that I observe within the store, where many are doing their best to maintain their social distance and shopping considerately. I especially see it in the customers who come and thank our team members for continuing to be here and serving the community. Your thoughts and kind words make a world of difference.
JONATHAN NHAN, RPh, CDE Pharmacist / @nhanjonathan903
Perspective is a powerful thing. How you look at a situation really determines how you feel about it and how it makes you feel. For the last number of weeks, we’ve had our “normal” lives changed, some may say that it has been turned upside down by a tiny, microscopic virus known as COVID-19. The impact on how we live our lives has been felt by everyone in some way. There has been some positivity coming out of this situation and while it may feel difficult to look at the situation positively, that may be a good perspective to adopt to evaluate this current situation.
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On a more personal level, it has given me the time to reflect and take stock of the things that are important in my life. Now that our options for activities have been limited, it has given me an opportunity to delve into things that kept falling by the wayside. I’ve had a chance to spend more time at home and really enjoy being there. I’m able to spend more time with my wife and kids, as we are “stuck” at home. I’ve spoken with friends and family members more now than before, when schedules were busy and packed with activities. It has been a nice reset and has helped to reprioritize my life. This time is like a gift - there is almost never a time when everything stops. There are legitimate concerns of bills and pay cheques and everyone is affected to different degrees, but it can be helpful to step away from those concerns once in a while to focus on the positive. There are many resources available online to help with stress management, mindfulness, self-care, and general wellbeing. Seek these out if you need support. If you’re looking for a place to start, visit the Shoppers website at www.shoppersdrugmart.ca for links to resources available right on the home page. We’re all in this together and we’ll all get through this together.
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