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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
ON THE COVER
Frank Soave, Long Branch Resident And Owner of North Star Landscaping Inc. Showcases His Award-Winning Pool Installation For Our 2020 Home & Garden Edition
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www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
MASTHEAD EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS DR. SHELLEY GORMAN Psychologist 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
JAMES MALONEY Member of Parliament, Etobicoke-Lakeshore
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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TABLE OF CONTENTS JULY 2020 PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p8
HUMBER COLLEGE...p20
Welcome to our 2020 Home & Garden Edition. We hope you’re making the best of the quarantine!
Like gardening? So does Humber College Lakeshore Campus. Read about the GARDENS Project!
COMMUNITY...p11
WELLNESS...p22
Mike Wixson of The Pod Plant submits an article about his perspective on the pandemic.
Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND talks about the health benefits of plants. Yes...plants!
BEST OF THE ELPOD...p13
MIMICO MEDICAL...p24
We featured our first musical guest on the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast (ELPod). See who it is!
This month we feature Dr. Shelley Gorman, Clinical Psychologist at Mimico Medical.
LOCAL HEROES...p14
SPECIAL FEATURE...p26
MP James Maloney shines a light on the Heroes of Etobicoke-Lakeshore - featuring Dino Ari.
Brought to you by everyone’s favourite Historical contributor, Bill Zufelt, on Rearing Monarchs.
BACK IN BEESINESS...p15
FAMILY LIFE...p27
Looking back to this time last year, Moya Financial is back in beesness!
Guess who’s turning 2 this July!? Read Jessica Tumminieri’s monthly column to find out.
ON THE COVER...p16
LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS...p28
Featuring Frank Soave, Long Branch Resident and Owner of North Star Landscaping Inc.
Brad Jones keeps it real again this month with his article entitled, A Not So Good Canada Day.
FOOD & DRINK...p18
YOUR HEALTH...p30
Check out this mash-up of Local Take-out Teasers from around the ‘Hood!
Our favourite Pharmacists from the Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch weigh in with wise words.
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
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE HOME & GARDEN which to work. If you fall into the category of those with a backyard, you’ll most certainly be interested in reading this month’s Cover Story featuring Frank Soave; a Long Branch resident and the Owner of North Star Landscaping Inc. Frank can help you re-design your backyard and turn it into the oasis of your dreams. Which is a wonderful concept, especially considering how much time we’re all spending at home these days. Read this month’s Cover Story on page 16.
ROGER TUMMINIERI
Publisher , Etobicoke Lakeshore Press
etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com @etobicokelakeshorepress Welcome to our Home & Garden Edition! In keeping with the changing times, I decided to publish this edition as many of us are keeping busy maintaining and upgrading our homes and gardens. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, or home, there are opportunities for you to tap into the wonder of growing. A good friend of this magazine proudly posts photos on her Instagram page of her impressive #BalconyFarm, while others have more space with
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On the gardening front, Renee Pilgrim offers some insight into the Three C’s of Gardening At Home. Read what some of your neighbours are doing to beautify their properties, teach their children, and stay connected to nature on page 22. Another article I’d like to highlight here is one written by Matthew Douglas. He’s a Long Branch resident and Lead Pastor at West Edge Community Church in Port Credit. Matthew writes about the notion of cutting away in order to grow, drawing parallels between pruning fruit trees and one’s own relationships. It’s a fascinating piece and I encourage you to read it on page 12. A special shoutout to my wife who’s celebrating a milestone birthday in July. I won’t say what milestone, but I’d like to wish her a very happy birthday! Luke is also celebrating 2 years of no haircuts this month. Way to go, little buddy! Love you!!! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy our Home & Garden Edition!
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One of our members, who is the owner of Preferred Magazine, Carlo Greco, shared his experience with our advisory team. “I’m very happy with Office146 and the business advisory team. Once COVID started I just froze and had no idea on how to apply for some of the stimulus programs. Office146 guided me through the steps and helped me with the application process. As well, they helped pivot my business during these times and found other grant programs the business would qualify for. They provided support to complete my finances and complete an application for the grants.” This is one of the programs we offer our members to help them through COVID-19.
PREFERRED MAGAZINE Carlo Greco, Publisher carlo@preferredmagazine.ca www.preferredmagazine.ca
SOUND OF SILENCE DURING COVID-19 “The Sound of Silence” is a song by the American music duo, Simon & Garfunkel. Garfunkel once summed up the song’s meaning as “The inability of people to communicate with each other, not particularly internationally but especially emotionally,so what you see around you are people unable to love each other.” This message can be interpreted differently today than it was 55 years ago. The streets have been clear of motorists and pedestrians for the better part of 3 months. Only we have found ways to take advantage of this silence, by learning new ways to communicate with one another and love each other. To see and hear things around us we overlooked when the world was carrying on at its usual dizzying pace. We have been learning to be more self-aware, empathetic and empowered. We are learning to listen. We have found different ways to use our voices and we have been able to hear and appreciate sounds which previously may have been overlooked and simply not noticed. Fresh air is key to staying sane. One cannot stay indoors all the time. Getting outside has allowed us to get in tune with the sights and sounds of
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nature, which at one point, we may have taken for granted.Silence uses nonverbal language - this is what I’ve heard during this silent time. For example, birds. I had no idea how many call Long Branch home. Were it not for this silence, birds would likely just fall into the category of birds - now, at the end of this I may just be able to identify all of them by their distinct voices - Cardinals, Sparrows, Blue Jays, Red Winged Black Bird, Starlings, Crows, Seagulls, Ducks, Canadian Geese, and my favourite, the Mourning Doves. There are other outside sounds that break the silence of this new normal. The tolling bell of the knife sharpening truck, the ice cream truck playing “Turkey in the Straw” and, the lawnmowers, garbage trucks, airplanes, delivery vehicles. Now, three months later, this silence brings more happy sounds - kids zooming around on scooters and bikes, shrieking with joy, tennis racquets connecting with balls, neighbours introducing themselves by name. Silence is at times more powerful than the actual words. AMANDA KIRKLAND New Resident of Long Branch amanda@bluconcierge.ca / www.bluconcierge.ca
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
KAM SARAN
We are so happy to support our community. Over the past few months we have been so focused on helping our members in any way possible.
Community Lead, OFFICE146 / 146 Thirtieth St (South of Horner Ave) kam@office146.com / 416-855-4142 / www.office146.com
COMMUNITY BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES
PERSPECTIVES ON PANDEMIC PODCASTING We all had a different experience on that fateful day in March when we were told by our government health officials and the World Health Organization that we needed to create a system of social distancing to combat the pandemic of our lifetime. It felt nebulous. Genuinely like we didn’t know what was happening simultaneously alongside report after report from the news around the world of the affects this virus was having.
The Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast began to book guests from across the community. They were instantaneously pivoting their business to help the community get the food, medicine, PPE it so desperately needed. Roger the publisher of this magazine brought people to the podcast from every level of government to report to the community directly on how the pandemic was being handled and what could be done.
Many people saw it coming, but social distancing was not just a public health recommendation, it was becoming law.
This targeted, localized podcast began to become the voice of the community at a time when communicating with each other became exceedingly difficult. It was a place where people could share stories about how they were triumphing. It was a show where doctors would talk about how people could be safe. We even got a perspective on what business would be like in the future and how doctor visits would look in the future.
We were at war with an invisible, deadly virus and our only defense was to stay away from each other and push pause on our businesses, our jobs, and for the moment in many ways, our entire lives. This is an unheard of precedent and not something any of us were ever prepared to get used to. What would we do next? Well the answers are infinite to that question. I can tell you this one podcast in particular started to reveal the sheer ingenuity and desire humans have to make a comeback. A couple of days into social distancing I was set up at home having moved the entire studio from South Etobicoke to my house in Vaughan. Now in my office which is not at all soundproof, there was a studio connected to the internet via a software I had only used occasionally, called Zoom. Over the next 30 days I would find myself immersed in producing over 113 podcasts for businesses and people who needed to communicate with their listeners how they are reacting to this pandemic shutdown. One of those podcasts began to shed light that I didn’t expect to see at such a dark moment in our history.
I began to realize that this podcast was making me feel better about life. At a time when the news began to thrive on the spread of the virus with inaccurate information, often changing details about how to protect yourself and non-stop expert after expert who contradicted the previous expert, this podcast was highlighting the best in human spirit. It made me realize that of course we will get through this. Of course we’ll come out the other side stronger, better, maybe even more connected somehow. I think podcasting to South Etobicoke might just have saved my soul when it needed saving the most. What an incredible community. MIKE WIXSON is the Owner of Alderwood-based The Pod Plant and Producer of many local podcasts including the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT MIKE WIXSON OF THE POD PLANT WAS FEATURED ON THE COVER OF THE MAY 2020
EDITION OF THE ELP READ IT ONLINE AT
www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com
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ARTS & CULTURE ART AT HOME Among other things, community members are missing visiting exhibitions and projects in our Community Project Space and in other gallery/ exhibition spaces. But at LSA we believe creativity lives beyond the walls of traditional exhibition spaces! Kitchen Exhibitions, an initiative from LSA’s Youth Climate Collective, is a physically distant group exercise in reimagining parts of our homes as exhibition spaces. Some background: In 1991, famous curator Hans Ulrich Obrist hosted his first exhibition in his kitchen. Just starting out, Obrist lacked access to traditional exhibition spaces and was interested in the idea of displaying art in intimate and ‘ordinary’ spaces. Take a look around your home. What ‘sites’ can be used to display art? It can be anywhere in your home (not just your kitchen) - a wall, a shelf, a corner or a whole room. With the official arrival of summer, don’t forget outdoor spaces! Backyards and balconies can also be sites for your artwork (though be sure to weather-proof). Your artwork can be anything, something flat that you hang like a drawing or a painting, a sound or video you play, or even something 3-D like a sculpture or installation. Visit youthclimatecollective.ca/kitchenexhibitions for more info. Happy Curating!
NATASSIA MORRIS
Operations Manager, Lakeshore Arts
and Long Branch Resident 2422 Lake Shore Blvd W / 416-201-7093 @lakeshorearts / www.lakeshorearts.ca
INSPIRATION GROWING FRUIT It’s summertime and many people are growing fruit and our fav fruit is in season. The worst is when you go to the grocery store and all you see is small-undeveloped unripe fruit. You were meant to be fruitful. You are meant to bring something good into this world. Us humans have the incredible ability to produce good even in the harshest conditions. Wherever you are you can produce something good, that’s your purpose. I have heard of amazing things, big and small, that people are doing to make the world better even under the hard conditions of 2020. I look at history and read, Gulag Archipelago or Man’s Search for Meaning. One is set in the work camps of Soviet Russia and the other in the German concentration camps. Both revealed two things: 1) You can make things better even if you are in hell; 2) The way out of hell is by directing your life to the greatest possible good you can be and do. This is the fruit you are to produce. This is your purpose in life. I believe you can make your life better. I believe you can make the lives of your family better. I believe that you can make the lives in your community better. There is no limit to the good you are capable of doing. But it’ll require you to be pruned.
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You are no different than the fruit trees in the orchards. To produce good fruit you need to be pruned. Growth and fruit always involve pruning. Every branch and leaf require energy and nutrients. When you cut off the branches that aren’t required on the tree then all that energy and nutrients get focused on growing the fruit. Are you focused on the fruit in your life? Or are you feeding all the wrong things leaving you with small-undeveloped unripe fruit? “You’ll never have ripe fruit if you don’t prune the suckers.” That’s what my papa taught me. You have to prune off what’s sucking your energy and taking your nutrients. The first step in getting what you want is having the courage to get rid of what isn’t helping you produce the good fruit you’re created to produce. The Pruning Shears. Take time to reflect and journal your answers: 1) What is the highest good you can direct your life towards? 2) What stupid things do you continue doing that keep you small? 3) What do you need to cut away to produce better fruit for your life, for your family, for your community?
MATTHEW DOUGLAS
Lead Pastor at West Edge Church and Long Branch Resident
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
LIONEL DOE
Lead Singer of South Etobicoke-based band, So Dirty The Flamingos Playing Live on the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast at The Pod Plant Photo by: Mike Wixon, The Pod Plant
PODCAST BEST OF THE ELPOD Mike Wixson (The Pod Plant) and I have been producing the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast (ELPod) since early March of this year. In that time we’ve enjoyed featuring guests from across the South Etobicoke community. From politicians to ice cream makers, we’ve covered a wide spectrum of local personalities.
Now, none of this would have been possible had it not been for Mike Wixson. I’ve written about Mike here in previous editions, but his dedication to local podcasting has made the ELPod a great success! He’s been gracious with his studio time at The Pod Plant and he continues to impress our guests (and me) with his professionalism.
Our most recent guest, however, is a personal favourite. Not because he’s cooler than everyone else (who’s cooler than Brad Jones?), but because he was our first musical guest.
Thank you, Mike, for all you do to help the folks of Etobicoke-Lakeshore stay connected through a time when connectedness is at a premium. You’re an unsung hero of our community, my friend.
Lionel Doe, lead singer of the South Etobicoke-based band, So Dirty The Flamingos, joined us on the ELPod in early June. Lionel sang live on the show and he was the first ‘live’ guest we hosted in-studio since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
By: Roger Tumminieri
If you haven’t already done so, please tune in and have a listen to some of our shows at: www.etobicokelakeshorepress.com/podcast You’ll have a chance to get caught up on what’s been happening in Etobicoke-Lakeshore and hear from some of your favourite shop owners and politicians to see what life under quarantine has been like for them.
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HEROES OF ETOBICOKE-LAKESHORE This month’s nomination for Heroes of Etobicoke-Lakeshore is Dino Ari. Dino has always been very generous in donating pizzas to charitable groups, including the homeless and disadvantaged and he has been going the extra mile during this pandemic by donating free pizza to frontline workers. Thank you for your generosity. You truly are a Hero of Etobicoke-Lakeshore.
James Maloney, MP Etobicoke-Lakeshore Follow on Instagram @james.maloney #heroesofetobicokelakeshore NOMINATE A HERO www.jamesmaloneymp.ca 416.251.5510
DINO ARI
OP-ED THE FORGOTTEN FRONTLINE Occupational Health Nurses, The Forgotten Frontline. Keeping Employees Safe Will be Key to Re-opening Our Economy. By: Drew Sousa In late April, the Ontario government announced that those working on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis would receive a bump in pay. The list of eligible workers included all nurses in hospitals and long-term care facilities, workers in most shelters, mental health and addictions workers, some social workers, and all support staff in hospitals, long-term care homes and correctional facilities. It was an important gesture by the government, a recognition that these frontline workers are putting themselves at risk to help all of us get through this horrible pandemic and get the province back on its feet. About 350,000 healthcare workers in the province are now eligible to receive an additional $4 an hour for the next 16 weeks along with a monthly lump sum payment of $250 in recognition of the important work they are doing during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Those people, and I have said it before, they are underpaid,” the Premier said. “This is just a small token of our appreciation that we can show.” For someone putting in at least 40 hours per week, the “pandemic pay” increase works out to about $3,560 more over the next four months, not an insignificant amount in these uncertain times. The move was widely applauded, but within days,
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there were calls from a number of other groups to be included on that list. Days later, the government expanded the list to include paramedics, respiratory therapists, public health nurses and all addictions and mental health workers in a congregate setting who serve the same functions as their counterparts in acute-care hospital settings. Missing from that expanded list were occupational health nurses. As a profession, we aren’t terribly well understood. But occupational health nurses are already on the frontline, working as healthcare providers in a number of different work settings including organizations deemed an essential service. These nurses are already dealing with complex health issues. And they are playing a key role in keeping the essential services that we all count on going. With the recent news that the province plans to move into the next phase of the pandemic and slowly allow more people back to work, occupational health nurses will play a vital role in keeping us all safe and minimizing a second wave. Their risk of exposure is already greater than most, but that will only increase as restrictions are lifted and occupational health nurses begin doing more health assessments, including temperature checks. As industries open back up, this will be the new frontline in the fight against this horrible pandemic.
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
Cont’d on page 26
MOYA FINANCIAL BACK IN BEESINESS feels like they have done their natural duty in reproductions, but can control the results. The goal of this is to avoid a swarm, which is when the queen leaves the hive with a part of her colony and continues to thrive elsewhere. In an urban setting, we want to avoid this, which is why we split the colony in the springtime. Beekeepers do everything to avoid a swarming hive, but nature sometimes has a mind of its own. If you do see a swarm in nature – it looks like a large cluster of bees and is typically hanging from a tree branch or overhang – do not panic. Beekeepers from Alvéole are equipped to retrieve them. The first step would be to send us pictures of the bees and call their bee-mergency line: 1-855-395-0395, extension 4.
At Moya Financial, they recognize that a sustainable environment is an important foundation for our community and future generations. With each decision, they consider the impact they make on staff, members, partners, the community, and the environment. With these principles in mind, and as just one example, they expanded their bee farm and found a new, more suitable home for the hives. They will continue to spread awareness of the importance of these little workers for our environment and of their connection to Slovenian heritage and culture. As well, they will look to shift their Brown’s Line branch and head office to renewable energy solutions,eliminating their energy-related emissions footprint.
In the beginning of June, the beekeeper was able to find the queen and we saw the different members of the colony that live in the hive. The colony is currently bringing in pollen from many different fruit trees and is continuing to grow quickly. Although the year ahead may look different, they’ve got virtual workshops in store for the upcoming season. The first workshop, Meet the Bees, will be on Thursday, July 2 at 5:00 PM. Their beekeeper Devon will open a hive and show us what’s inside – the frames and honeycombs – and point out other special things to look at. For more information on how to join a virtual workshop, visit moyafinancia.ca. Moya Financial Credit Union Ltd. 747 Brown’s Line Toronto, ON M8W 3V7 Canada
Can you believe it’s been a full year since the arrival of beehives? In the past year, they were able to: Grow their colony to 60,000+ bees. Produce 14 kg of honey. Distribute over 300 beeswax products to members. Host 2 workshops. With warm weather finally knocking on our doors, Moya honeybees are back to work. At the end of April, the hives were opened for the beekeeping season and thoroughly inspected. The colony was fed and treated to ensure they are going into their busy season with all the resources they need. The first hive inspection recreated how bees grow as a colony in the wild. Honeybees are a super-organism and to reproduce, they split the colony in half (much like a cell!). To follow and manage this natural impulse for the honeybees, their beekeeper split the colony themselves so the colony
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COVER STORY LONG BRANCH’S FRANK SOAVE TUR
The rise of North Star Landscaping isn’t an overnight success story. It started humbly 45 years ago with two lawnmowers strapped to the trunk of a 1972 Chevy Nova when Owner and Long Branch resident, Frank Soave, was just 21 years old. As you can see in the above photo, time has been good to Soave; and North Star Landscaping. From humble beginnings to its current state, Soave has built his business from the ground up (there’s a landscaping pun here somewhere). He works closely with his wife, Donna, and their two sons also work for the company, making North Star truly a family business. As we all navigate the new normals of the
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COVID-19 era, we’re faced with fewer options in terms of vacations and leisure experiences especially this summer. Soave, however, has a solution. “Turn your backyard into your own oasis,” he states. “When you have no place to go, why not invest in your own home - particularly your backyard?” North Star Landscaping specializes in the installation of in-ground fiberglass pools, which for many is the starting point to creating a personal at-home oasis. If you’re reading this and thinking: “My backyard isn’t big enough for a pool.” - well, think again.
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
RNS A BACKYARD INTO AN OASIS
By: Roger Tumminieri
FRANK SOAVE, LONG BRANCH RESIDENT AND OWNER OF NORTH STAR LANDSCAPING INC. SHOWCASES HIS AWARD-WINNING IN-GROUND POOL INSTALLATION North Star will install all sizes of fiberglass pools - perfectly sized for your South Etobicoke lot. Imagine the feeling of kicking back in a Muskoka chair watching your kids splash around in your new pool in the middle of your freshly landscaped backyard. No need for hand sanitizing and physical distancing. In fact, the only mask you’ll be wearing will be a scuba mask. North Star’s expertise has been recognized across Canada. The property pictured here won Soave second place in a national contest for in-ground pool installation. North Star Landscaping doesn’t just rock the pool-installation world, though. They also offer a
variety of custom work tailored to a homeowner’s wish list. Soave is consultative and works closely with his clients to help them achieve their landscaping vision, which seems to be more top-ofmind to people these days than ever. North Star Landscaping is your local four-season, one-stop-shop for any project; be it fiberglass pool installation, interlocking, small excavation, water proofing, wall-building or grading. They also provide lawn maintenance services to commercial and industrial customers. If creating an oasis in your own backyard is on the top of your pandemic to-do list, you know who to call. North Star Landscaping Inc. 1273 St. Mary’s Ave, Mississauga / 905-990-7778 www.northstarlandscaping.com
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FOOD & DRINK LOCAL TAKE-OUT TEASERS FROM
@irishsnug
@decourses
@mysecretkitchen316
@ranuthaicuisine
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
ACROSS SOUTH ETOBICOKE
@woodysburgersto
@acquafinefoods
@royalmeatsbarbeque
@edsrealscoop
“Best Breakfast” in Long Branch
3232 Lake Shore Blvd W (West of Twenty Second St) IG: @decourses / 416-855-1362
Avo Benny w/ Bacon
CHEVAPS
signature dish
BACON BURGER T.J. O’SHEA’S IRISH SNUG
3481 Lake Shore Blvd W / 416-253-5500 Instagram: @irishsnug
ROYAL MEATS BAR/BEQUE 710 Kipling Ave / 416-251-1144 www.royalmeats.ca
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HUMBER COLLEGE COMMUNITY UPDATE Summer is in full bloom in the Lakeshore community and on Humber’s Lakeshore campus. I hope you have been able to get out of the house and safely enjoy the outdoors. You may have noticed that the Humber College and LAMP Community Health Centre GARDENS project is here! I mentioned the project in last month’s newsletter and am happy to provide an update. We have installed nine garden pods at sites across South Etobicoke: Birds & Beans Coffee Storefront Humber Inc. Humber College Fashion Institute L.E.G.S / Daily Bread Food Bank Toronto Public Library - Long Branch James S. Bell Middle School Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School LAMP Community Health Centre Barsa Kelly Cari-Can Cooperative Homes Inc Humber students from the International Development and Community Development programs, with the support of community volunteers, are tending to the mobile garden sites, adhering to Toronto Public Health guidelines, which means slight changes to operations. Eight students are involved with the GARDENS project, three of whom are paid for their work study, supported by Canada Summer Jobs and the Office of the Principal. This year, three Film and Media students are volunteering to do a documentary on the project and how it has been adapted to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. The project was created by a working group to tackle food insecurity in the community, and nev-
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er has this need been stronger with the impacts of COVID-19 on our community. If you haven’t been able to take part in the GARDENS project, you can still contribute to the effort. We are looking for members to join our Advisory Council. To learn more and apply, visit: www.gardenslakeshore.ca In anticipation of an eventual return to our beau-
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
tiful campus, a Humber Lakeshore intern is creating a series of soundscapes recreating special moments in history on the Lakeshore Grounds. All you need to participate are headphones. Some soundscapes will serve as guided walking tours. If you’d rather stay home, you can follow along with slides and videos. The series will be released throughout the summer. For more information, visit: www.lakeshoregrounds.ca
After the incident, Humber reaffirmed its commitment to developing action-based solutions to address anti-Black racism, as well as continued allyship. The college is revising hiring practices, providing educational sessions about anti-Black racism, taking steps to ensure every student who graduates from Humber can see the world through an equity, diversity and inclusion lens, and establishing an African/Black Employee Resource Group.
I could not provide an update without addressing the issue of anti-Black racism and the acts of solidarity that have filled our streets. We must begin by acknowledging the existence of anti-Black racism in Canada, in Ontario and in our schools, including Humber.
We stand in solidarity with Black students, faculty, staff, and community members. We are listening to members of our community with lived experience. While work is underway, there is still much that can be done. As allies, we will continue to speak up and take action against racism and be leaders in our community.
Late last year, hateful, anti-Black graffiti was found at our Lakeshore Campus. It was a reminder of the overt and covert racism often faced by members of Humber’s Black community.
Principal, Lakeshore Campus Senior Dean, Faculty of Social and Community Services
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DEREK STOCKLEY
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WELLNESS HEALTH BENEFITS OF PLANTS can improve productivity, creativity and inspiration. While I’m sure everyone is eager to spruce up their outdoor spaces with the beautiful weather we’ve been having, don’t forget to bring a little bit of the outside in. Consider getting versatile plants that can be brought indoors over the colder months and survive throughout the seasons. And don’t forget, you don’t have to have a green thumb to reap the benefits of plants! There are some houseplants that even the self-proclaimed “killers” can keep alive (I personally find pothos and spider plants to be the most resilient).
While this time has surely been filled with both ups and downs, I have mostly appreciated being at home more. For me, my home has been my sanctuary. And I know how lucky I am, because many people don’t have that luxury. One thing I love about my home is all of my plant babies (and if you’ve stepped foot in ONE Health Services, you know we have many plant babies there, too!).
DR. MELANIE DECUNHA, ND
Naturopathic Doctor Founder, ONE Health Services 3515 Lake Shore Blvd W / 647-748-4884 www.onehealthservices.ca
But, these plant babies aren’t just pretty to look at! They help purify, humidify and oxygenate the air. They help to boost mood and bring a sense of calm. They
Curiosity. Julia, her wife and their child Aurelia, enter their second garden season. Still learning the movements of the sun, shade and richness of soil, curious about volunteer plants, where and how to use the existing foliage to decide where berries and veggies will go. Planting with colour? Some kids really like purple and are fond of beats for this very reason. Being curious about other purple varieties; beans, lettuce and carrots help create a masterpiece.
GARY & DONNA remain curious. Trying new varieties of vegetables, techniques for laying out beds, new ways to learn to grow together, including sharing with the local wildlife.
JULIA & AURELIA Commitment. Donna and Gary recently celebrated their 50 th anniversary by extending their garden. Dedicated to seasons of care necessary to maintain, weed, water, harvest and rest to do it again year after year. They have planted trees and berry bushes to watch them grow and still they
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Community. Community gardens mean condo/ apartment people like me can also grow in our backyard. Over the past few years here I have also foraged, weeded and removed garbage form the trails and pathways from Marie Curtis to the Humber. Etobicoke comes from an Indigenous word ‘place where the alders grow’. Acknowledging in their teachings of our deep relationship to the land and all it provides us. Gardening, time in nature, soothes the nervous system, connects us to a deeper purpose and helps us all grow together.
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
Renee Pilgrim is a Registered TCM Acupuncturist at MiBody.ca and a Life and wellness coach at www.Transformaven.ca
THE THREE C’s OF GARDENING AT HOME
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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MIMICO MEDICAL DR. SHELLEY GORMAN Editor’s Note: This article is published in its original format as submitted to the Etobicoke Lakeshore Press. It was typed on a typewriter. We didn’t change a thing because we think it’s awesome that Dr. Gorman took the time to type her editorial and submit a printed copy. Thank you to Dr. Timothy Kodsi of Mimico Medical for digitizing the content of this article.
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Dr. Shelley Gorman is an undergraduate of Stanford University and York University, 1979. She has her graduate degree, Ed. D. OISE, University of Toronto, 1985, and is registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, 1986. Dr. Gorman’s professional positions: - The Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, METFORS (forensic psychology) 1981-87 (as a psychometrist and as a psychologist). - Ontario Ministry of Correctional Services, a psychologist for “Young Offenders” males and females, ages 16-18 Vanier Centre in Brampton, 1987-89. - Psychologist, employed by Peel Memorial Hospital in Brampton, as Director of Addiction Counseling Services of Peel, 1989-2001. - Private Practice, 2001-2019, specializing in individual counseling and psychotherapy, couples therapy, addiction counseling, and trauma. Dr. Gorman offers psychologist services for individuals, couples, addiction issues, forensic assessment (psycho-legal) and meditation.
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OP-ED THE FORGOTTEN FRONTLINE They will continue to be the escalation point for anyone requiring COVID screening or follow-up, but those numbers, and the potential hazard, will increase exponentially. As a profession, we have a critical role to play in our response to the pandemic. The scope of our practice is very similar to that of a public health nurse in the community, only our work happens within the environment of an employer. We assess risk, identify how to reduce it, and put in place programs that ultimately maximize the health of our employee population.
Cont’d from page 14
cesses in place to make it happen seamlessly and without increased risk. We are fundamentally nurses, regardless of where we work. And we have a strong role to play in facilitating proactive strategies to promote and maintain health and safety in the workplace. It’s time for the Ontario government to think outside the box when it comes to how they see us. They need to see us for the value we bring to the table and help organizations realize that we are a valuable resource they need to consider.
Our mantra is keeping workers well. And because we are working outside of a hospital setting, we are actually at greater risk because we aren’t afforded the same level of protection as those in a traditional health care setting.
Our interventions are far reaching, and they don’t just end at the door of the workplace. We are impacting the health and wellness of our employees even when they go home and interact with their families.
In the crisis gripping the province, we are the forgotten frontline. Whether it’s helping employees manage exposure to COVID-19 during travel, treating injury or managing infectious diseases, we are dealing with risk every day.
It’s likely too late to be added to the list, and the government should be commended for the job it is doing to keep us all safe. There are a number of other forgotten frontline workers who also don’t qualify for pandemic pay like physiotherapists, dietitians, medical radiation technologists, and social workers who work directly at the bedsides of COVID-19 patients.
We wear many different hats, managing scenarios and applying the same critical thinking as our nursing colleagues in a hospital setting do, and much like hospitals, we put similar controls in place for COVID-19 from points of entry, to hand sanitizers, to PPE, to how best to adhere to physical distancing. As we prepare to open up our economy and move into next phase of bringing people back to the work, the level of complexity for all of us will increase as we make sure we have the right pro-
But when we enter the next phase, which is just around the corner, occupational health nurses working in businesses are going to have an important role to play in bringing Ontarians back to work in a health and safe way. Drew Sousa is the Executive Director of the Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association.
SPECIAL FEATURE REARING MONARCHS For the zealous gardener there is nothing more edifying and complimentary to one’s splendors of cultivation than a kaleidoscope of butterflies. The fluters of butterflies have been revered in history, art, music, myths and magic for tens of thousands of years. To our Indigenous cultures, the butterfly is a symbol of change, joy and colour. And the exquisite butterfly is considered a miracle of transformation and resurrection. In South Etobicoke we are blessed with a multitude of butterflies from the regal 'Monarch' to the giant 'Tiger Eye' to the tiny 'Wild Indigo Duskywing'. Cont’d on page 27
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Each butterfly has its own unique four-cycle life journey from larvae, caterpillar, chrysalis, to a six legged and winged marvel of nature. My own particular affection toward butterflies began as a young lad growing up on 5 acres on the Sturgeon River in Tay Township. At the time, collecting butterflies was a popular summer activity. But I went a step further. I had started doing what is now a growing trend and, in many parts of the world, a necessity - the ‘rearing’ of butterflies. It all started when one day Mr.Lawson who had an adjacent farm to our property informed me that his livestock of dairy cattle were allergic to the poisonous Milkweed. My parents allowed Mr. Lawson to harvest and bale the hay on our property for his livestock so getting rid of any milkweed in our pasture would be a help to him. Soon my caterpillar farm was eating the milkweed almost as fast as I could find new mature specimens to transplant. Then one day the ravaging of milky succulent leaves stopped. Underneath the existing leaves, the most wondrous phase of a monarch’s life was happening. The caterpillars were transforming into chrysalises. ‘Metamorphosis’ is without a doubt, one of nature’s most mystifying and magical acts.
In the next 7-10 days the second phase of metamorphosis occurred when the stately Monarchs (named after The Prince Orange of Holland) started emerging. As soon as the butterflies had dried their gleaming orange wings off, they flew to gather nectar from flowers, trees, milkweed, blooms, and pods. My summer of ‘rearing’ Monarch butterflies was complete. Moreover, the joy for an eight year old is to this day, something you can’t put into words . Like great music, the only ‘way’ is to experience for yourself. Today the Monarch butterfly is endangered so any campaigns to help rearing Monarch or other butterflies for that matter, is something every gardener needs to consider. If you would like to rear Monarchs you’ll need a safe and sunny place in your garden to transplant Milkweed or plant the seeds from their pods. Once planted the Monarchs will do the rest. I say ‘safe’ because the Milkweed as mentioned earlier is poisonous to animals and pets. Interestingly, the toxins in the sticky white milky sap are eaten only by the Monarch caterpillar and its toxicity is carried through its entire adult life. The colourful, vibrant orange is to warn predators that the Monarch butterfly (as it was in its caterpillar state) is poisonous, too! Happy rearing!
FAMILY LIFE HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, LUKE!!! Since the pandemic started in March, my husband joked that every day felt like a Wednesday. We’d often lose track of the days as both of us are at home with the boys. As we shift into summer, Roger’s trying his best to re-build his business, as are many of his clients. I, along with so many Moms, am going onto month number four of entertaining children, with at least two more to go. It’s been an adventure.
LUKE TUMMINIERI
Son of the Publisher Celebrates 2 Years Of No Haircuts
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish our Little Guy, Luke, a very happy 2nd birthday! He is such a joy. His hair is a bit longer (“more robust,” my husband calls it) than it is in the accompanying photo. As Roger mentioned in his Publisher’s Note, Luke has yet to have a hair cut :) Wishing you all a wonderful July and hoping you and your family are happy and healthy! - Jessica
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LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS A NOT SO HAPPY CANADA As I write this, Premier Ford just extended the province’s emergency orders until the end of June.
If your hackles just went up because I put that word in quotation marks, please hold on a second and keep reading.
I wonder what Canada Day is going to look like this year? No fireworks, large BBQ parties and shared beer, that’s for sure.
Please don’t un-friend me.
Forget about enjoying local summer festivals, too. If you’re feeling frustrated and shocked by how COVID-19 can continually siphon off feelings of calm, hope, happiness and progress, you’re not alone. Ontario remains Canada’s “most closed economy” and Toronto is one of the last regions in North America – yes, on the continent! – to remain marooned in Stage 1 lockdown. As a funeral director I cringe when I overhear grieving families assured they’ll adjust to a “new normal;” as if any stage of normal is possible when a cherished mother, father, sister, brother, child, wife, husband, best friend is gone. When loss kicks in our door and burns the house down, whether by death, divorce, disappointment or doom (those murder hornets), life changes forever.
If you just cheered and sneered, wait. I am likely not going to say what you think I’m going to say. Taglines like “We’re all in this together” imply that someone safe at home – blessed with a backyard, financial resources and childcare – is living lockdown life just as hard as a person who’s marginalized, poor and without family support is ludicrous. Yes, you’ve done it already but let’s do it again: imagine life for frontline workers, from medical doctors to grocery clerks, and the impact on their families and social network. And it really is best if you don’t get me started on what life is like for families isolated from those they love in long-term care, the hospital, hospice, prison (yes, they matter, too) or awaiting life-saving surgeries and treatments.
There’s no going back after we’ve lost people, places and/or things we cherish.
I am a funeral director so you can imagine my thoughts and feelings on the tortuous impact on grieving families not afforded the healing support of vigils, visitations or fully-attended funerals and life celebrations.
What’s been unfolding since mid-March has changed the very fabric of Canada and our civil liberties. How we define community and what it means to belong and feel safe among one another has forever been altered.
Despite reassurances from our politicians that “common sense” will win the day (e.g., wear a mask, wash your hands, no singing or dancing in church!), summer in the country, city and within our community is increasingly confusing.
There’s no “new normal” to hope for because we have zero idea what life will look like and feel like as we plummet into a future where a second wave of mayhem is considered imminent.
Take one of the most recent examples.
For the Irish, irony is an emotion.
Like a lot of parents, I’m still on the fence about whether my six kids being out of school for over three months made educational celebration a moot point anyway.
Since I enjoy whiskey from time-to-time I’ll say this about our current conundrum: we’ve descended into a sad irony as a planet and as a species. At a time when we’re putting on masks before walking into a bank or convenience store (i.e., normal rules no longer apply), I believe a lot of us are wondering how long we’ll have to walk the tightrope between doing what’s right for the greater good and what’s right and reasonable for ourselves and our families. Social distancing, social circles, social bubbles and mask wearing are at an all-time high but we’re also feverishly and, at times, maddeningly and violently preaching “inclusivity” and transparency.
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For the sake of our most vulnerable we agreed not to celebrate our kids’ graduations.
All of us have been forced to make hard choices and carry heavy consequences thanks to this global pandemic. Yet despite our complacency and cooperation, we’ve been forced to watch our servant-leaders break the rules again and again. Remember, our politicians are tasked with serving others and carrying out our wishes for the good of the whole. We elected them. They are to act on our behalf. But we sort of started the rule-breaking first. Remember the “selfish and dangerous” mass gath-
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
A DAY -ering in downtown Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods Park at the end of the May? Isn’t it phenomenal to step away from social media time – where bandwagons and mobs love to roam – and realize that less than 48 hours after our Toronto-centric outrage at hipster young people that George Floyd’s murder by police triggered worldwide protests.
eyes, ears, minds and hearts. As we lurch and stumble into a hot and beautiful summer, may we reactivate the feelings and actions that show our leaders how to behave in our name and in our best interests. May we come together and celebrate our country and each other in the name of freedom, justice, honour, duty, mercy and hope.
Watching our leaders take a knee among crowds of thousands, masked and unmasked, peaceful and unpeaceful, should make us pause.
Brad Jones is president of locally-owned, commission-free Ridley Funeral Home (3080 Lake Shore Blvd West) in Etobicoke.
What are the rules of civil society now?
He can often be spotted taking early morning walks with his wife and wondering why he’s still not back to his high school weight.
How are we to move forward as a community of citizens linked by common interests and collective activity? What can we do to remain connected to our shared humanity, and the rest of Canada and the world for that matter, as we remain in a lockdown that keeps getting extended?
You’re welcome to chat with Brad by calling 416.259.3705 or emailing him at BradJones@RidleyFuneralHome.com
There are no easy answers. But there is one behaviour I suggest. Take a break from social media. Turn off your screens for a bit. Avoid checking your phone before coffee. Put down your phone at night. I finally adhered to this sage advice. Since the spring, both my funeral home manager and my wife begged that I stop following the Trudeau and Trump Show. The protests. The name calling. What’s happening to the polar bears. Social media is a vacuum. The news we consume absolutely shapes our behaviours, attitudes and the degree to which we value ourselves and others. Poet and undertaker Thomas Lynch says it best because he’s way smarter and a little bit better-looking than me: “The debate is controlled by the extremes, each side shouting answers and accusations over the heads of the people in between, who are kept from formulating questions. No one listens. Everyone screams.” As we prepare to celebrate Canada Day with no more than 10 of our closest loved ones – or is it five in a circle? Or 10 inside a bubble? How about in a hot tub? – let us ask the questions that matter: How may I Serve? What can I do to grow and expand? Where am I contracted and frightened? Why do I really need to listen and learn? What vision do I have for my family, community and country? How can I be kinder and stronger? These are the types of questions that open our
BRAD JONES
Owner, Ridley Funeral Home
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YOUR HEALTH SUMMER IS HERE. FEEL IT? We have just crossed the threshold of another change: Summer is here! And as the time moves and the days pass, you may not have been aware of exactly when spring ended and summer began. Oftentimes, change happens like this. You feel one way, until you feel differently. Your first inclination may be to think that feelings, attitudes, and thoughts are hard to change. How does holding onto that belief serve you? Some examples of quick changes can be when you get cut off in traffic, or bump into a good friend unexpectedly. It can be easy to move from one state to another. Maybe it is just easy. Now how do we manage and control this? We often think of feelings and emotions as positive or negative, and this assigns a value to them - either good or bad. Another resourceful way of thinking about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions can be as depleting or renewing. Depleting emotions may feel heavy, and drain you from carrying them around. Renewing emotions feel light and lift you up, refilling your tank.
JONATHAN NHAN, RPh, CDE Pharmacist / @nhanjonathan903
Next time you feel like you are experiencing a depleting emotion and you want to let it go, focus on your breathing as you breathe deeply in and out as you focus on a renewing emotion (gratitude and appreciation are great options!) and notice what changes. Practice this and use it often, then let me know how good you feel.
With clear and bright skies and warmer temperatures, our spirits are high! We are feeling the first small Summer appearances and we want to go out and do things, but… Maybe we feel too tired. Maybe you haven’t gotten around to those “I will move more” goals and you spent winter and spring indulging yourself and not moving much. Now what? The result could be lack of energy, overweight and lowered self-esteem. With the ongoing pandemic, this could be a common theme. Ask yourself: “Am I going to stay on that path? What’s next?” Ask yourself from a totally honest point of view. Is that what I want? There are still six months ahead before finishing this year. Is this what I want for December? Is ‘here’ where I want to be? If the answer is no, we will help you with the rest. The hardest part is done. Congratulations!! The decision is done. And if you want to stay truthful to yourself come see us. We are going to provide you with the rest of the tools you need to make that happen, to become the best version of yourself.
MARIA TERZAGHI, RPh, CHC Pharmacist / @4betterself
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