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HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR ON THE COVER
Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND Founder of ONE Health Services in Long Branch talks about her vision for integrative health in 2020
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MASTHEAD EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS The ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS is the only free, monthly lifestyle magazine focused on South Etobicoke. Published by Fiat Lux Media, it is mailed to houses in Long Branch by Canada Post. Additional copies are available at selected local businesses and high-traffic pick-up locations. Our aim is to capture life in South Etobicoke by highlighting the many positive contributions to our community by local business owners, elected officials, and residents. 146 Thirtieth Street, Suite 100, Unit 25.
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 JENNIFER BAZAR MATTHEW DOUGLAS Long Branch Resident and Curator, Long Branch Resident & Lead Pastor at Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre West Edge Church in Port Credit 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 JESSICA TUMMINIERI Long Branch Resident and Operations Mother of two very active boys; Manager at Lakeshore Arts Wife of the Publisher JENNY SHEARMAN CHRISTINE HOGARTH Personal Chef / Owner at My Sweet Member of Provincial Parliament, Beet and New Toronto Resident Etobicoke-Lakeshore
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TABLE OF CONTENTS COMMUNITY...p10 New this month from Office146 - a Community within a Community & T.J. O’Shea’s “GAVE” back.
INSPIRATION...p13 Pastor Matthew Douglas challenges us to set goals from a different perspective for 2020.
HUMBER COLLEGE UPDATE...p14 Derek Stockley shares some big news about new developments at the Lakeshore Campus.
COVER STORY...p16 Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND of ONE Health Services shares her vision for integrative health & wellness.
MIMICO...p20 Andrea Turpin interviews Mimico’s own, Janelle Carpenter & a feature on Mimico Medical.
WELLNESS...p22 Read about the health benefits of Marie Curtis Park in the winter.
LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS...p28 Brad Jones of Ridley Funeral Home looks back at 2019 with 20/20 vision; seeing monsters and also miracles.
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE A NEW DECADE! We’ve got a lot of great editorial for you this month, not the least of which is an article written by my awesome wife, Jessica, about the benefits of simply getting outside with your kids this winter. If your kids are like ours, buy yourself some good winter gear and get out with them and enjoy the cold and snow. You’ll make memories that will last a lifetime and will hopefully instill within them a love for nature, no matter the season. I’d like to thank all of our editorial contributors for their submissions to this edition. Not the least of whom is our good friend and Long Branch resident, Pastor Matthew Douglas. He’s written a fitting piece for the New Year that I think everyone should read. It’s on page 13. Happy New Year and thank you very much for reading our annual Health & Wellness edition!
ROGER TUMMINIERI
Publisher & Long Branch Resident
Published By
FIAT LUX MEDIA
Welcome to our annual Health & Wellness edition! We did it! We made it to 2020 - a new decade! Can you believe Y2K was twenty years ago? How time flies. This year marks our fifth year in business and I’d like to thank everyone who has helped it get to this point; be they readers, writers, advertisers, or suppliers. If you’re new to the magazine and this is your first time reading it, thank you for picking it up. I hope you enjoy its hyper-local content. This month, we’ve featured Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND on our cover. She’s a naturopathic doctor and founder or ONE Health Services in Long Branch.
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I’ve been working with Dr. DeCunha for a few years and I’ve see first-hand the positive impact her clinic has had on the community. All you have to do is walk in the door and the stresses of your day start to fade and the calm created at ONE Health starts to set in. It’s a special place and Long Branch is lucky to have Dr. DeCunha and ONE Health Services. Speaking of luck, T.J. O’Shea’s Irish Snug (get it: “Luck of the Irish”), has done something that I think everyone in the community should know about. Although they are humble people, Colby Kriegl and Meagan Larman from O’Shea’s deserve much praise. They’ve managed to make Christmas a whole lot better for many local families. I’ve captured the results of their fundraising efforts in our Community section on page 10. Well done, Meagan and Colby!
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COMMUNITY 3 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL 2020 and she referred me to an awesome place called Mibody Health & Fitness - www.mibody.ca. While my first few classes were definitely a challenge, it didn’t take long to get hooked on their high energy classes and now I am a consistent member there. Taking action on the things that seem hard is a big step towards growth in all areas. The key? Not waiting and just simply going for it. Find the right tribe “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
Natalie Colalillo
Founder & CEO, Happy Healthy Women www. happyhealthywomen.ca natalie@happyhealthywomen.ca Well, friends, here you have it. Not only a brand new year, but a brand new decade! As 2019 came to an end, I was inundated with messaging that reflected a heightened awareness around making the last few months of 2019 completely epic, and launching into this new decade with a massive shift! As much as I love reasons to always be growing and aiming for more, I know that it’s not just about making a change once, for long term gain. If we want to see results in our lives, we need to take a bit of a deeper dive within, and make some decisions for consistent change. As the leader of Happy Healthy Women, a community which thrives on growth in all ways, I’m offering my top 3 tips that have not only helped me personally move to the next level in all areas of my health and success, but that the members of our community have seen results with as well. Here goes: Decide what you want this year to look like It’s not enough to think about something you want and think “wouldn’t that be nice…?”. If you’d like an area of your life to change for the better, you’ll have to make a decision on what that is going to look like, and the beginning of 2020 is the perfect time to take that leap. If you’re looking for inspiration on what you actually want to create, consider attending inspiring events in the community. We have one for women coming up on January 12th called PROSPER: A Day to Manifest Your Best Year Ever. Tickets: www.happyhealthywomen.ca Challenge yourself with action With decision comes action. This is where most people get stuck. At the start of 2019, I decided that this was going to be the year that I got into the best shape of my life. Being new to the neighbourhood, I asked a friend who she would recommend for the best fitness classes on Lake Shore,
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When we are surrounded by people who believe what we believe, or are where we want to be, we are inspired to do more and be more. It should come as no surprise to you that community means everything to me, which is why in addition to leading Happy Healthy Women across Canada, I choose to spend my days in the most amazing Co-working space that Etobicoke is so lucky to have. Office146 – www.office146.com - has completely changed the trajectory of my personal and professional growth. The people who make this their place of work are driven, ambitious, and supportive. I really couldn’t envision my life without them and believe that it’s the perfect fit for anyone looking to be inspired and grow in 2020! While I could definitely go on forever on this topic, I really do believe that these three pieces are a recipe for making this next year a great one. May they inspire you to dream big, take action and feel supported while doing so. Wishing you a happy, healthy and successful 2020!
O’SHEA’S GAVE BACK This may be the shortest article in the magazine but it is, by far, one the most impactful published in this edtion. A few months ago, I spoke with Colby Kriegl and Meagan Larman from T.J. O’Shea’s Irish Snug in Long Branch. They told me they wanted to give back to our community by helping bring a proper Christmas dinner to families in need this year. They also wanted to raise funds and collect toys for LAMP’s Toy Room. Their hearts were certainly in the right place and, as it turns out, so were yours. Below is an update on the results of Colby and Meagan’s fundraising efforts: - R.T. We’ve been able to feed 131 families! Pretty crazy for our first year!! We were able to donate over $2500 worth of toys this year, too! We had an amazing turn out from the community. People that have never even been to the pub coming in and dropping HUGE donations. Unreal. All together with cash donations for toys and cash for food we raised over $8000 this year. AMAZING!!! Our community has a lot to be proud of!
T.J. O’Shea’s Irish Snug 3481 Lake Shore Blvd W (at Thirty First St) meagan.osheas@gmail.com / 416-253-5500
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LONG BRANCH HISTORY WHAT’S IN A NAME A few months ago during the ‘Cottage Years’ exhibition at the Humber Interpretive Centre , an enthusiastic attendee mentioned to me “Thank God the Sea Breeze name for what is now Long Branch was very short lived.” The fact is, if it hadn’t been for the vision of Thomas J. Wilkie and his caring doctor, we could all still be living in Sea Breeze, Ontario! So what is the story here? Who was Thomas Wilkie and why is Long Branch named Long Branch? Stepping back 137 years, a group of businessmen, namely W. Redford, James Hughes, Simeon Heman Hughes and William Lennox bought 54 richly forested and shore-lined acres from the James and Martha Eastwood Farms in 1883. In 1884 official plans were drawn up to establish a lakefront resort that would include a hotel, lots for 250 ‘villas’, amusements and a recreational park. At least that was the plan. It never came to fruition, however, until Thomas John Wilkie, Secretary of the first Toronto YMCA, arrived on the scene in 1886 retuning from Brooklyn, NY. As fate and failing health were to impose change, the entrepreneurial philanthropist, Thomas J. Wilkie upon returning home in 1886 after tirelessly assisting at the YMCA Long Branch New Jersey, was urged by his doctor to buy some land and seek “outdoor, non-stressful work”. Luckily for him, Wilkie had heard about the floundering Sea Breeze project in South Etobicoke. Wilkie, a man of means, along with investors J.G.Cornell of Scarborough and his own brother, John N. Wilkie who was the manager of Naismith’s Steam Bakery, quickly assumed and took over the quaint resort. His work helping establish the largest and best equipped YMCA in the world in Brooklyn and the neighbouring community of Long Branch, NJ (“The sea playground of Presidents”) was about to pay handsome dividends to our Long Branch on the Lake. NOTE: Long Branch, New Jersey was founded in 1867 and was named after the long branch of the Shrewsbury River which emptied into the Atlantic Ocean. Even despite his doctor’s health-saving efforts, the spirited Wilkie eagerly added a fully equipped gymnasium, chapel, tennis, lawn bowling courts, croquet, quoits, archery, and camping grounds for the Young Men’s Christian Association summer camps. A Coney Island Carousel like the one in Long Branch, NJ and a water toboggan flume were added. The Park also boasted a 300 seat dance / picnic pavilion and included a baseball diamond with lacrosse facilities. An ocean-style wharf that could dock the largest excursion passenger steamers from the Great Lakes (via Welland
Thomas J. Wilkie Canal) including the White Star and the American Greyhound was also commissioned. To further realize Wilkie’s visionary and elegance of ‘Long Branch on the Lake’, he hired the best architects including Mr. Richard Ough to design and build the luxury Japanese Pagoda Hotel with electricity and telephone, “water fountain square” and the Queen Anne and Victorian Villas which still stand on Lake Promenade today. The Long Branch resort even had its own 40 hp steam electricity generator to serve the park’s lights, water fountain pumps, carousel and hotel. Within the gaining temperance movement of the then ‘Toronto the Good”, Wilkie, a staunch Protestant, enshrined the park with a 12 foot fence with a stately pillared and guarded gate at Stop 23, which is now Long Branch Ave and Lake Shore. The park was ‘dry’ and no motorcars were allowed on the premisses on Sundays. The Long Branch Park was a profitable ongoing concern hosting large scale church picnics, baseball tournaments and dance hops with an estimated 5000 visitors a year. But in the mid-1900s when the railways started taking patrons to the Muskokas, the dynamics of Long Branch Park dramatically changed. In 1908, the Wilkies sold off the park assets and the Hotel to the Dorothy Wright family and moved to California. In 1933, The Wright Family graciously donated the land around ‘the fountain square’ for the building of the Cenotaph. In 1958, on Feb. 15 the Hotel burnt down after an attempt to thaw frozen water pipes. Have your say about the renaming Len Ford Park (the only original Long Branch Park shoreline left) to Thomas J. Wilkie Park by going to the survey www.toronto.ca/whatsmyname
BILL ZUFELT
Long Branch Resident and Chair of the History & Culture Committee Long Branch Neighbourhood Association bill.zufelt@lbna.ca
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MOYA FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF RRSP’S A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is a specific type of account intended to help Canadians save for retirement. Unlike a regular investment account, the earnings in an RRSP are not subject to income tax until the funds are withdrawn. Contributions made to the account easily compound with the gains to increase your savings, virtually without external conditions. This is the most significant advantage of an RRSP. A common misconception associated with this retirement savings vehicle is that it is itself an investment. This is incorrect. Maybe you’ve heard somebody talk about the RRSP they bought or are planning to buy. But you cannot purchase an RRSP. Rather, you open one. It is the specific investments that you hold inside your RRSP account that you buy and contribute toward. Here are five benefits of making a contribution to your RRSP: Tax Deferral To echo what was said earlier, every contribution you make to your RRSP is a chance to defer or minimize tax. Most people are in a higher income tax bracket during their time working than when they are retired. RRSP contributions are deductible for income tax purposes, so the deduction can mean that your working income is taxed at a lower rate. Spousal RRSP Contributions
Nancy Kajin
Financial Services Representative Moya Financial’s Main Branch 747 Brown’s Line withdrawal limit of $20,000. The Lifelong Learning Plan cannot be used for your children, however.
The government allows you to contribute to your spouse’s RRSP account, making it possible for the contributing spouse to receive a tax deduction while increasing the investments in their spouse’s RRSP. Spousal contributions prove most useful in situations where spouses earn quite different incomes; that is, one earns much more than the other.
Tax-deferred Growth of Contributions
Home Buyer’s Plan
Whether or not you contribute to an RRSP depends on your specific situation, but you should be aware of the financial challenges that can come with retirement and how important it is to prepare yourself. Open an RRSP and reap its benefits as you get ready for your future.
Contributing to an RRSP is a long-term strategy. So it may be difficult to focus on it when you’ve got short-term targets, such as purchasing a house, that you also want to meet. But an RRSP makes investing in your future possible while still helping you meet your immediate goals. Thanks to the RRSP Home Buyer’s Plan, you can withdraw up to $25,000 – once – to buy a home. Withdrawing the money does not attract any income tax, but you must recontribute the funds to the retirement plan within 15 years.
Making an RRSP contribution shields the growth of your money from income tax. Although the government will tax any withdrawals from your account in the future, you don’t have to report to them any investment transactions. Your money receives uninterrupted growth!
This article is not intended to provide financial or financial planning advice. Please visit Moya Financial at their main branch located at 747 Brown’s Line and they will be more than happy to meet and chat in person!
Lifelong Learning Plan The Lifelong Learning Plan can come in handy if you or your spouse decide to extend your education. The plan gives you a chance to withdraw up to $10,000 for full-time learning, with a lifetime
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INSPIRATION SETTING ‘BE’ GOALS You’ve either made goals or you’re going to make goals for this year. Likely all your good goals are based on what you want to do. Those might be good goals but great goals aren’t based on what you want to do but rather who you want to be. Because of my vocation, I attend a lot of funerals. I have gone to funerals of people with great power and status and I have gone to funerals of people with no power and status. I can assure you this; none of the people that shared about their lives highlighted what they did while they lived. They spoke about the person they were. The same will be true for you. We put so much emotional and physical effort in what we want to do but we never consider who we want to be. I want to encourage you to change that today. You have to make this a priority. Because no one is pushing for us to be better people we are just pushed to do better things. It’s always a mistake to decide what you’re going to do before you decide who you’re going to be. If your doing is shaped by your being you will be in a much better place. Who we are works its way in all the things we do. I believe what is true for all of us is the legacy we leave behind. What is the story you want to be shared about you? If you want to create a clear picture of who you want to be then I would like to share with you an exercise I did to create my own personal vision for who I want to be. Email info@westedge.org with the subject line: “Be Goals” and I will send the exercise.
MATTHEW DOUGLAS Pastor, West Edge Church
So this year don’t stop at creating good goals for what you want to do. Create great goals for who you want to be.
MATTHEW DOUGLAS
Lead Pastor at West Edge Church and Long Branch Resident 157 Lakeshore Rd W / 905-274-6564 @westedgecc / www.westedge.org
ARTS & CULTURE WELLNESS THROUGH ARTS Physical activity, health, mental wellness, and self-care have been the buzz words of the past decade (sidenote: can you believe we are in a new decade? Neither can we!). The shift in consciousness has been palpable and our neighbourhoods are changing because of it. Yoga, gyms, physiotherapy, nutritionists...you name it, we’ve got it here in South Etobicoke! The arts, too, can play a significant role in your healthy living journey, especially in youth. Back in the Spring of 2017, LSA embarked on a partnership with Ryerson University to uncover just how much the arts can impact the mental wellbeing of Grade 8 students at a crucial time of transition in their lives. Over the three-year study, we evaluated our in-school photography and spoken word program, Shazaam: In Focus and discovered overall that the program made a positive impact on the students who participated. Post-program evaluation showed increases in positive attitude towards self, confidence in self-expression, and power over their decisions - all of which lead to healthy mental wellness in youth and something we feel incredibly proud of! Check out the full report on our website and stay tuned for another decade of wellness-inducing arts engagement from LSA.
NATASSIA MORRIS
Operations Manager, Lakeshore Arts
and Long Branch Resident 2422 Lake Shore Blvd W / 416-201-7093 @lakeshorearts / www.lakeshorearts.ca
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HUMBER COLLEGE COMMUNITY UPDATE Colder weather and snow on the ground transform the Lakeshore campus into a magical winter wonderland. While many people pick-up the pace, ducking through buildings as they move, other brave souls use the campus for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. The opportunities provided by this season are endless! As we enjoy changing seasons and look forward to a new year and decade, I become increasingly excited about our plans for the years ahead. On December 9th, we held community information sessions about our plans for the revitalization of the Lakeshore campus and the creation of the Humber Cultural Hub. If you missed it, this is your chance to learn about our exciting plans for the campus. The Humber Cultural Hub will benefit our students by giving them access to cutting-edge technology and experience, and benefit the community by amplifying existing arts and culture programming and attracting more to the area. In short, this revitalization will feature something for everyone. A new 600-seat multi-use performance hall will attract and magnify high-quality music, performance arts and other programming. It will feature a vineyard-style stage with seating wrapping nearly entirely around the stage. There won’t be a bad seat in the house! Opportunities abound further when you consider the 150-seat Music Performance Hall that is being built as part of the Humber Cultural Hub. These two halls create new opportunities for cultural, music and film festivals. With Humber’s Lakeshore Campus recently named as a primary location for Nuit Blanche’s expansion to Etobicoke, the excitement is already building. The Hub will also house our new Centre for Creative Business Innovation as well as an Indigenous classroom. There will be new recreational features as well. A new gymnasium will be built as part of the Cultural Hub, and Humber is also exploring a potential partnership with the Toronto Catholic District School Board that would allow for a temporary seasonal dome over the track located behind Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School. So, if you are looking for new recreational opportunities, stay tuned! If you already know that experiencing new recreational activities or taking in new cultural programming will make you hungry, you’ll be pleased to know there will also be a new Café Kitchen & Servery. And finally, there will be a 300-bed residence to support our student population that has doubled over a decade.
DEREK STOCKLEY
Senior Dean & Principal Humber College Lakeshore Campus
porate “mass timber” construction, which is more sustainable and has less carbon impact. With this building, we are targeting net-zero carbon certification, LEED Platinum and meet the Toronto Green Standard. We will also target to meet or exceed accessibility standards. There will also be outdoor spaces that will provide new experiences to support existing events like Etobicoke Lakeshore Culture Days, including a new courtyard that everyone can enjoy. I am excited for what this revitalization will bring to the campus and the community. Already, we are hosting a nine-foot bronze sculpture on campus called, Cover Up (The Reveal). The sculpture, on loan from the Power Plan Contemporary Art Gallery, is a moving sculpture by British artist Thomas J. Price. I encourage you to come see it. It will be located outside of C Cottage until May 2020. I’ll continue to update you on major progress of this exciting revitalization project. And if you find yourself itching to get out over the holidays, I encourage you to walk, snowshoe or even ski over to campus and see all that it has to offer, and learn about that it will offer, in the years ahead.
Keeping in line with Humber’s commitment to sustainability, the Humber Cultural Hub will incor-
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DEREK STOCKLEY
Senior Dean, Faculty of Social and Community Services Principal, Lakeshore Campus Humber College
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Artist’s Renderings of new Humber Cultural Hub to be constructed on the Lakeshore Campus
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COVER STORY DR. MELANIE DECUNHA, ND TALKS Extraordinary health IS possible! So what is naturopathic medicine? It’s a form of primary healthcare that blends modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine. It is based on the principles of treating the root cause and using the body’s own ability to heal itself. Some people like to think of naturopathic doctors as health detectives! I make it my mission to make my patients feel heard while also helping them to realize that settling for “fine” does not have to be a reality. I have a passion for working with high-achieving individuals who are ready to level up their health. Unfortunately, I find a lot of people are stuck in the rut of “not enough time”, “it’s too hard to change” or “I’ve always felt this way – I’m fine“. Have I mentioned already that I hate that word?
DR. MELANIE DECUNHA, ND Founder, ONE Health Services Heya, Long Branch! My name is Dr. Melanie DeCunha and I am a Naturopathic Doctor and the founder of ONE Health Services; an integrative health clinic whose mission it is to bring people to extraordinary health. Three years ago, I saw the need for access to complementary medicine within Long Branch. The vision was a place where people had their healthcare team collaborate and work together under one roof. More importantly, a place where people felt welcomed and heard, and realized that extraordinary health was truly possible. I saw Long Branch as the perfect community for me to provide care. The tight-knit community and support for its small businesses and residents made me fall in love. A vision for integrative care At ONE Health Services, all of our staff and practitioners share the vision of extraordinary health care and work collaboratively to ensure our patients all get the same high level of care. From the moment you walk in, you will feel right at home as you are greeted by one of our lovely patient care coordinators and offered a warm cup of tea. All of our practitioners offer a complimentary Meet & Greet so that we ensure it’s a good mutual fit before proceeding with treatment. Our current list of services includes naturopathic medicine, psychotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic care and registered massage therapy. We also offer online booking and direct billing for major insurance providers. www.onehealthservices.janeapp.com
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But what if I told you that you could have extraordinary health and work/life balance AND still crush your goals? In fact, what if I told you that you NEED extraordinary health in order to reach those lofty goals that you are so capable of crushing? I so firmly believe that extraordinary health is possible for every person and that you need extraordinary health to live an extraordinary life. It’s not one or the other. It’s both. The year: 2020. The vision: 20/20. 2019 was a tremendous year of growth for me and I can’t wait to continue with it in 2020. While I don’t necessarily set new year’s resolutions, I love setting intentions and goals that are ongoing throughout the year. I don’t know how to explain it, but I can just FEEL that 2020 is going to be epic! As a naturopathic doctor, a huge goal of mine for 2020 is to be able to expand my offerings and reach. I’m so excited to say that I have officially launched two methods to reach those goals. For the first time ever, I am offering an online educational health program called: The Extraordinary Health Code I love the idea of people accessing healthcare from the comfort of their home and on their own schedule. And for that reason, in 2020 I will also be rolling out virtual consults! Meaning people can still choose to come see me in the clinic, or we can do the visit online! It’s incredible how technology is advancing healthcare and making it more accessible for people. I’m also very excited to announce that for the first time ever, we are now offering a community group through ONE Health Services! The Wonder Women Collective is getting started this month with our inaugural cohort. We will offer the pro-
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
ABOUT HER VISION FOR INTEGRATIVE HEALTH gram on a quarterly basis, with very limited spots available. Petra Najafee and I will be co-hosting the group which will initially be offered to women only. Community is such an integral part of Long Branch and what we do at ONE Health Services. While we love working with individuals one-onone, we know that community IS medicine and are so excited that we can finally offer this as part of our services. Stay tuned for details of how you can sign up for our next session! PRACTITIONER SPOTLIGHT PETRA NAJAFEE, Registered Psychotherapist Hi, folks. I’m Petra, ONE’s resident psychotherapist. What does this mean? It means I create a brave space where people can be real, learn about themselves and learn to live their best lives. I came to this work in a roundabout way. I used to teach high school. I started to recognize that a student’s true path to success was going to depend on being able to manage the ups and down of life. That in order to thrive, they needed to be healthy in body, mind, and community. I figured out that connecting with people is where my real passion lays. So, I went back to school and followed that passion. Now I have the privilege of working with a diverse group of clients. I still work with some teenagers but mostly with adults. I have a special interest in working with clients around perinatal mood and mental health. It was an inevitable part of my journey because I believe that if we want to support kids, we need to support the folks who are raising them.
PETRA NAJAFEE Registered Psychotherapist The awesome part of working at ONE Health Services is that I have a team around me that believes that health of body, mind and community are connected and essential. While my colleagues support clients in developing a healthy body, I can support them in developing a healthy mind to meet life’s challenges. My practice is built around safety, bravery and trust. I am awestruck by my clients’ ability to learn and grow and change. They are what brings me back to the office every day and why I feel so honoured to do this work.
ONE HEALTH SERVICES
3515 Lake Shore Blvd W / 647-748-4884 www.onehealthservices.janeapp.com The Extraordinary Health Code health.drmelaniedecunha.ca/program
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FOOD & DRINK HEALTHY NEW YEAR RECIPE Here is an easy recipe that the whole family will love... Cherry Tomato, Spinach, Ricotta & Pesto Pasta 6 cup(s)Baby Spinach 1/2 cup basil pesto 2 cups cherry tomato 360g fusilli 4Garlic Clove(s) 4 tbsp Parmesan 1 cup ricotta Cooking Instructions
JENNY SHEARMAN
Personal Chef & Owner, My Sweet Beet 647-457-0093 / IG: @mysweetbeet www.mysweetbeet.ca
As the New Year begins, many people embrace wellness and health as one of their goals. Meal planning and cooking more meals at home can be incorporated into your routine to help keep you on track with your health goals.
MY SECRET KITCHEN
316 Lakeshore Rd E / 905-990-2057 www.mysecretkitchen.ca
Mince garlic and cut cherry tomatoes into quarters. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 minutes or until al dente. While the pasta is cooking, fry the garlic in a large oiled pan over medium heat 1-2 minutes. Add half of the cherry tomatoes and a splash of water, and cover pan. Simmer on low for 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add spinach and pasta to pan, and cook for 5 minutes more while stirring. Add remaining cherry tomatoes, ricotta cheese and pesto. Mix well and remove from heat.
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
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Avo Benny w/ Bacon
MIMICO Q&A WITH JANELLE CARPENTER JANELLE CARPENTER
www.janellecarpenter.com @janellecarpentercreative
Other than photography, what else interests you?
I grew up thriving on music and art so I’m always interested in bringing the arts to others, kids especially! I am also very much an explorer and you will usually find me walking around Mimico enjoying the weather or shopping for records at the local vinyl shop. What kind(s) of photography do you shoot?
Tell us about yourself and what you do.
My name is Janelle and my wonderful growing side hustle is janellecarpentercreative, my photography and videography business. With working full time, I wanted to keep my photography passion alive. I decided to officially launch janellecarpentercreative.com in December of 2018 and have been warmly received by many clients. The business has quickly evolved from an archive of my work to a steady stream of clients trusting me with their projects and memories.
I mainly focus on portraits so whether that be new headshots for a growing performer or engagement photos, I try to fill my portfolio with everything. How can people book a session with you?
I’m on Instagram @janellecarpentercreative or you can contact me through my website at www.janellecarpenter.com. I am always game for new projects and collaborations! How long have you lived in Mimico and what do you love most about living here?
I moved here 21 years ago from downtown Toronto. I thought I would miss the hustle and bustle, but over the years I have been able to watch Mimico grow with local businesses and community events. I have lived and worked in the community for so long that I usually catch up with someone in the area while out running errands. I love the people here! They have made this community so fun to be a part of and I’m happy to do my part in making it a great place to live.
READ ALL OF OUR INTERVIEWS AT www.adrianandrea.com INTERVIEW BY ANDREA TURPIN
Royal LePage Signature c: 416-319-6893 o: 416-205-0355 andrea@adrianandrea.com www.adrianandrea.com
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MIMICO MEDICAL
Mimico Medical’s roots are in this neighbourhood. The goal of our professional development was to return here and serve this community with compassion and commitment. We understand the unique challenges faced by residents of Mimico/Lakeshore, and we are honoured to help tackle those challenges from a place of deep respect. We base our culture of care on a multi-disciplinary team approach built on a foundation of family medicine. We highly respect the knowledge and opinions of physiotherapy, psychiatry, and psychology professionals. This team approach helps our patients thrive. High-quality patient care is our guiding principle. Our clinicians each bring unique skillsets to the clinic team. Dr. Negin Mastouri is highly qualified in cosmetic dermatology, Dr. Shoghi Nikoo specializes in LGBTQ and trans health, Dr. Milan Atanackovic is passionate about procedures, and Dr. Timothy Kodsi has boundless energy for teaching the next generation of doctors about holistic and compassionate family medicine. Tara Cameron, our physiotherapist, believes in a combination of manual therapy, exercise, and retraining your functional movement patterns. She bolsters these treatments with Shockwave, dry-needling, and pelvic floor physiotherapy. Mental health is a central component of overall well-being. Our psychologist, Dr. Shelley Gorman, brings a lifetime of experience and a diverse skill set to our practice. She offers individual counselling, couples’ therapy, addiction management, among others. Psychiatry services are also available in-house for patients who require them. We are so honoured to be part of this community and are committed to providing timely, thorough, empathetic care. We’ll be happy to welcome you!
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WELLNESS WINTER IN MARIE CURTIS PARK Walking can be dangerous on winter trails, forcing me to take my time. Bringing mindfulness to each step, feeling the textures beneath me, calming my mind and tuning into my body.
How many snow angles can you make in Marie Curtis Park? Fresh fallen snow is magic. In the city it gets complaints. It takes space to appreciate snow and the wonders of winter. Living in Etobicoke-Lakeshore, we’re blessed with space. Lush greens all summer long, glistening ice and snow for the next few months. One of my favourites is Marie Curtis Park. The space, the animals in it, the trees, grasses and waters through and around it have overhauled my quality of health and fitness, body and mind.
Take opportunities to get off the beaten path, create patterns in untouched fields, roll up some snow people and snow balls meant for the dearest of friends. Finding joy and play is such a stress reliever, not to mention the physical activity! Notice sore leg muscles from walking in the snow? The thick sticky kind is great for resistance training, activating muscles you may have never known you had, powered by cold and ice. Appreciate the sculptures the wind, waves and freezing cold make along the shoreline all winter long. Works of art. One of the most special things about winters in Marie Curtis Park are the creatures I meet along the way. Owls, coyotes, deer, rabbit and the occasional snow angel - all sweet reminders that we’re in it together, living our best winter life! Renee Pilgrim R.AC, R.TCMP Founder of Transformaven; a movement for change Resident Acupuncturist and Yin Yoga Facilitator at MiBody.ca
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YOUR LOCAL WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
LONG BRANCH TO
The workout you’ve been waiting for is finally here. Our doors are open!
READ IT ONLINE AT
Claim your free 1 week pass and book in today Web: f45training.ca/longbranchto/trial Email: longbranchto@f45training.com Instagram: @f45_training_longbranchto
www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com
Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND Founder, ONE Health Services
ONE HEALTH SERVICES
3515 Lake Shore Blvd W / 647-748-4884 www.onehealthservices.ca
N0W OPEN
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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MPP HOGARTH PROTECTING OUR ANIMALS We love our pets. Whether they are dogs, cats, fish or more exotic animals, our pets are our companions, friends and family members. It is hard to believe there are people who abuse or neglect their pets, but sadly we know people like that exist. In Etobicoke we are fortunate to have the Etobicoke Humane Society and many community activists who care about our pets and want to keep them safe. It is tragic that we need enforcement against animal abuse and neglect but these rules are necessary. As the Parliamentary Assistant to the Solicitor General I was fortunate to have been involved in the creation and passing of a new law called the Provincial Animal Welfare Services or PAWS Act. As of January 1, 2020, as a result of this new legislation Ontario will have the toughest penalties in Canada for animal cruelty. Our new model sets up a provincial enforcement team with a chief inspector, local provincial inspectors and specialized inspectors for agriculture, zoos, aquariums and horses. The OPP will have specialized training for animal welfare and we will
CHRISTINE HOGARTH
Member of Provincial Parliament Etobicoke-Lakeshore 195 Norseman St, Unit 21 / 416-259-2249 www.christinehogarthmpp.ca
have resources added for Crown Attorneys for prosecutions. New offences to combat dog fighting are included and designated people would be allowed to enter an overheated automobile when an animal is in imminent risk of injury or death. Working together we can make Ontario the safest place in the world for pets and other animals. If you see or hear about an animal being abused or neglected please call the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre at 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625).
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
FAMILY LIFE OUTSIDE IS THE NEW INSIDE...
JESSICA TUMMINIERI Wife of the Publisher Mom to Luke and Jaxon
Roger and I are proud to raise “outdoor kids”. Our boys love to play outside and we love keeping up with them no matter what the weather is like. We’re not doctors or health professionals by any means, but we believe that a good dose of fresh air (especially in the winter) is a great way to stay
healthy while having lots of fun with family! Years ago my husband made a New Year’s resolution to spend more time outdoors. This led him to learn how to camp, fish, and hunt. He’s now teaching our sons how to enjoy the great outdoors and
Cont’d on page 26
Make 2020 the year you finally get the health of your dreams! Book your appointment online at www.onehealthservices.janeapp.com
647-748-4884 / onehealthservices.ca 3515 Lake Shore Blvd W (East of Thirty Third St)
OUR SERVICES Naturopathic Medicine Psychotherapy Chiropractic Osteopathy Registered Massage Therapy Professional Grade Supplements Herbal Dispensary Organic Household & Personal Care Products & More!
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Cont’d from page 25...
appreciate the wonders of nature. One of their favourite things to do is to simply sit quietly in the snow under a tree and observe the stillness; listening to the wind and watching the animals play. Admittedy, my husband tells me this lasts for about three seconds which is the average time a seven-year-old boy can stay still and quiet. As we kick off a new decade and in the spirit of family and health & wellness, I’d like to encourage you to get just get outside with your kids. Enjoy the cold, the snow, the wind, and the even the shorter days. After all, we’re Canadian! Happy New Year!
JAX & LUKE
Enjoying winter and all the joy that comes from being Outdoor Kids
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Oak Learners 394 Royal York Rd. 416-820-5233
2020 HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE ELP
Wishing you much peace and prosperity in 2020. From my family to yours, Happy New Year! Roger Tumminieri, Publisher Etobicoke Lakeshore Press
LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS MONSTERS, MIRACLES & So much of the old follows us into the New Year. That five pounds we’ve been trying to lose for years. The business idea we keep talking about. An unfulfilling relationship we don’t have the energy to end. When we’re inside the energy of a problem (aka monster), there’s no room for a solution (aka miracle). Funeral director Brad Jones believes looking back honours our losses and creates a new year blessed with clarity and 20/20 vision. Love or loathe his paintings, Picasso said some pretty funny things. My favourite? “Everything is a miracle; it’s a miracle that one does not dissolve in one’s bath like a lump of sugar.” When I think back on 2019, the sweetness of sugar doesn’t come to mind. Neither does the comfort of a warm bath. If I had to choose an image that best describes the year we’ve all just buried (couldn’t resist), I’d paint a roller coaster with dangerously steep inclines and straight-down descends that would make the bravest rider scream. You know Munch’s “The Scream” painting? (It’s an emoji on your phone.) That’s pretty much me and 2019 as I reflect on the year with 20/20 vision. Sometimes we scream because life is scary. Sometimes we scream because life is exciting and moves like a giant roller-coaster. And then we crash down. And then up again. My life’s purpose revolves around meeting people when their roller coaster has stopped. The families I serve are facing the harsh reality that a roller-coaster passenger they love, a beloved who’s been part of their train since forever, has unbuckled their seat belt and opted out of taking another ride around the amusement part. When a person we love is no longer available to scream in laughter with us or howl in shared experience with us, we feel lost. A part of ourselves, a piece of the roller-coaster track, has been cut away and removed. The roller-coaster imagery isn’t meant to be trite but true. Every day, on some level, we lose something or someone. There are monster losses like death. And there are miracle losses like letting go of an unhealthy addiction or toxic relationship. Most people consider loss a realm exclusive to death. We say things like, “Sorry for your loss” and “I’m sorry about the loss of your father.” Throughout the year we may lose our car keys and we definitely lose our temper but when a loved one dies, they’re not “lost” – we are. The person we love and cherish is gone and their absence is, ironically, utterly and completely life-changing.
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I consider myself a man of faith but my religious beliefs only offer so much comfort as I carry the burden of my parents’ absence. My mother died 21 years ago and my dad this spring; that’s a monstrous reality I’m still facing, which is in desperate need of a life-affirming miracle. Yet there are some people within the grief community who’d label me, and others like me, an “orphan” because we are parent-free; both parents are lost to us forever. I believe grief offers many gifts – over time and with tremendous presence, strength and intention. The most nourishing gifts grief showers on us are appreciation, surrender and acceptance. Consider the miracle that is appreciation. If you’ve had the love of your parents for the majority of your adult life, whether one parent or two, you are not an orphan. You are a grown child who’s been blessed with love and belonging for most of your life. What a miracle to appreciate, savour and celebrate. As a funeral director for almost 30 years, I have witnessed first-hand the monstrous tragedies that can unfold in a split second and leave children parent-less. I show tremendous reverence to the term “orphan” just as I do “loss.” Often when we are grieving a loss, whether it’s a death, disappointment or betrayal, well-meaning people encourage us to feel outraged and offended. We use strong language (e.g., orphan) that pushes us further down into the problem rather than the buoyant possibility that will, in time and with care, reveal deep meaning and long-lasting comfort. When I reflect on how I dealt with my father’s long, unfair and drawn-out death, I can access feelings ranging from sadness to relief. My dad is no longer suffering. I still suffer and I still miss my dad, but my father is free from all pain and sorrow. I consider that truth a miracle. Surrender, another powerful gift of grief, should not be confused with passive resignation or hopelessness. Surrender is a sweet release when life is not giving us what we want and our plans are clearly in someone else’s invisible hands. I once read about a woman whose morning prayer was one word, “Whatever!” and whose evening prayer was “Oh, well!” That’s one of the most wretched stories about
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
A NEW YEAR
BRAD JONES
Owner, Ridley Funeral Home faith I’ve ever heard. Her worldview, “Oh, well!” will change when Big Loss comes to town.
We don’t dissolve in the bath like giant lumps of sugar, and that is indeed good news.
Like it or not, grief offers each of us the power of 20/20 vision about what matters in life.
Happy New Year!
Acceptance of life, what is in front of us right here, right now, is one of the most transformative gifts we can receive from grief.
Brad Jones is president of locally-owned, commission-free Ridley Funeral Home (3080 Lake Shore Blvd) in Etobicoke. This year Brad resolves to go to the gym, launch his podcast, drink better Scotch and learn how to dance.
Those monsters in our lives, whether they’re people, places or things, can be transformed into miracles as we lean in and listen to the whisper from within: life is not long – act accordingly. Life is not long but life is sweet; new in every moment and always offering the opportunity to look a monster in the face and see the miracle within the mirror.
You’re always welcome to check in on Brad and his New Year’s resolutions by calling 416.259.3705 or emailing BradJones@RidleyFuneralHome.com
As a New Year slouches into reality and a new decade is born, remember to appreciate, surrender and accept that life and death remind us to be kinder, stronger and more alive.
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YOUR HEALTH TALK TO YOUR PHARMACIST We are into another new year! If you’re like me, it feels like 2019 just began. The reality is we continue to move forward and as we move forward, what intention are we moving with? Have you chosen your word to help define your day-today? I’ve been using the word “ACTION” to colour and influence my daily routines and interactions. This word means many things for me. Sometimes when there are tasks that I don’t want to do, and in the past, I may have sat around thinking about how I could put it off, I now can take action and simply get the task done. Action also makes me think of moving forward with change. Rather than let things happen to me, I can be the agent to drive changes and take control. The great thing about choosing a word, rather than a specific resolution, is that it can be non-specific and apply to all different aspects of your life. It is powerful to adopt a word and truly utilize it to temper your intentions. At some level, you can think of it as a mindset change. At the very least, having a certain concept distilled down to a word to drive your daily life forces you to rethink things and see a different perspective. The only thing that is constant is change.
JONATHAN NHAN, RPh, CDE Pharmacist / @nhanjonathan903
At our Shoppers Drug Mart store in Long Branch, we want to change for the better and help our Long Branch community maximize their health and live amazing lives. Expect to have our pharmacy spend the time with you, on helping you with your health in ways that are important to you. Happy 2020!
“If you try to do your best, there is no failure.” - Mike Farrell Holidays, get togethers, family pressure, work deadlines, presents, school gifts - did you make it into the new year? On top of that, did you stay maintain that “healthy” lifestyle? With another year behind us, we often will begin to look for a new start. Does this new year feel like every other? Ready to try again at getting healthy? Or setting the same goals you do every year? If you have tried before and are trying the same thing again, you may be setting yourself up for failure. This year, it is time to try something new. Reach out to myself and the team at your local Shoppers to see how we can help guide you through the new year. Whether you need support with your medications and medical conditions, or are looking for a Health Coach to guide you on your path to a healthier lifestyle, the time is now. As a pharmacist and health coach, I am available for consultations and inquiries, and can provide you with tools and strategies tailored to you.
MARIA TERZAGHI, RPh, CHC Pharmacist / @4betterself
SHOPPERS DRUG MART IN LONG BRANCH 3730 Lake Shore Blvd W / 416-255-5243 / www.shoppersdrugmart.ca
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