MARCH 2021
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
KYLE BRUINSMA
of Alderwood’s Office146 helps businesses access government grants and funding to help them cope with COVID -19
page 10
www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
We are here for you! Please see my article on Page 6.
https://JamesMaloney.libparl.ca
MASTHEAD EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS KELLY FARRELL Founder and Director at Oak Learners; Private Alternative School in Mimico
MIKE WIXSON Producer of the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast & Owner of The Pod Plant
BRAD JONES HILIARY BREADNER Production Manager & Graphic Design; President & Owner of Ridley Funeral Home in New Toronto Owner of Hiliary Breadner Graphics DEREK STOCKLEY BILL ZUFELT Principal, Lakeshore Campus; Dean, Long Branch Resident and Chair of the Faculty of Social & Community Services History & Culture Committee, LBNA AMANDA KIRKLAND CHRISTINE HOGARTH Self-Care Coach helping busy people Member of Provincial Parliament, get organized and simplify their lives. Etobicoke-Lakeshore JONATHAN NHAN Pharmacist & Associate Owner at Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch
JAMES MALONEY Member of Parliamen for the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore
DR. TIMOTHY KODSI South Etobicoke Resident & Medical Lead at Mimico Medical
REUBEN MCCALLUM Realtor and Grey County Resident; Good-Bye City...Hello, Grey County!
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Powerful Grants & Funding Learn about government stimulus and subsidies available for your business.
BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION kyle.bruinsma@office146.com (416) 834-4681
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JAMES MALONEY 2021 TAX SEASON IS HERE It is that time of year again… Here are some details on this year’s tax season. What is the deadline to file and pay this year? For most, the deadline to do their 2020 taxes is April 30, 2021. For those who owe a tax debt, the deadline to pay is also April 30, 2021. Can you still file on paper? Filing online is the fastest and most secure way to do your taxes, but the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will continue to support those who choose to file on paper or by phone. If you filed a paper return last year, you should be mailed the 2020 Income Tax Package. The CRA encourages taxpayers to file electronically, where no processing delays are anticipated. Those who choose to file by paper are encouraged to file as soon as they have their slips and any other documents needed. This will help avoid interruptions to any benefit and credit payments. Where can you find tax help from the CRA? Through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) volunteers may be able to complete and file individuals’ taxes virtually. There are several in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. Those who have self-employment income are not eligible for the CVITP. However, the Liaison Officer service helps small business owners and self-employed individuals with their tax-related questions. For more information, go to: canada.ca/cra-liaison-officer. What changes have been made to the home office expenses deduction? Due to COVID-19, we made the home office expenses deduction more accessible and easier to claim. To simplify the process for employees and employers, the CRA introduced a new temporary flat rate method to calculate the deduction. Eligible employees can claim a deduction of $2 for each day they worked from home in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, up to a maximum of $400 for the year. This method can only be used for the 2020 tax year.
Income from COVID-19 benefit payments are taxable. Some provinces or territories may have sent out pandemic related payments that are considered taxable income. These amounts should be included on your tax return. Canadians who received COVID-19 recovery benefits payments from the CRA should have received a T4A slip. The CRA recently released a statement on how to report these amounts on a return. Those who have questions about the slip, including if they think there may be a mistake or they have received it in error, should contact the CRA. How is the CRA helping people with tax debt this year? Many individuals have seen their financial situation affected by COVID-19 and will find themselves owing money to the CRA, possibly for the first time. Targeted interest relief is being provided to Canadians who are facing income tax debt for the 2020 tax year as a result of having received COVID-related income support benefits. These individuals will not be required to pay interest on any outstanding income tax debt for the 2020 tax year until April 30, 2022. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will automatically apply the interest relief measure for individuals who meet these criteria. The Government of Canada is also taking steps to allow self-employed individuals who applied for CERB based on their gross income from selfemployment to keep their payments, provided they met all other eligibility requirements. Some qualifying self-employed individuals whose net self-employment income was less than $5000 may have already voluntarily repaid the CERB. The CRA and Service Canada will return any repaid amounts to impacted individuals. Even if you cannot pay all of your balance owing right away, it is important to file a return by the deadline to avoid potential interruptions to your credit and benefit payments. If you need more information please feel free to call my office.
Employees with larger claims for home office expenses can still choose to use the existing detailed method to calculate their home office expenses deduction. How do you report emergency and recovery benefit income related to COVID-19?
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
JAMES MALONEY
Member of Parliament Etobicoke-Lakeshore 416.251.5510 james.maloney@parl.gc.ca
TABLE OF CONTENTS MARCH 2021 PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p8
WELLNESS...p24
Thanks for helping us spread more love for Etobicoke-Lakeshore!
Lisa Meffe from Mimico Medical jumps into the fold this month with some help on making Bad Days Better.
COVER STORY...p10
WOMEN’S DAY 2021...p26
This month we feature Kyle Bruinsma on our cover. See how’s he’s supporting small business.
MPP, Christine Hogarth celebrates International Women’s Day; Choose To Challenge!
I EL TRUCK EVENT...p11
HUMBER COLLEGE UPDATE...p28
Help us thank the gracious sponsors of the first ever I EL truck event.
Derek Stockley looks back at an unfortunate anniversary in this month’s Community Update.
LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS...p14
YOUR HEALTH...p30
Jonathan Nhan from Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch anchors this edition with some insight on Self Love.
Brad Jones from Ridley Funeral Home says: “Community Is Immunity.”
FINANCE...p18
The folks from Moya Financial offer tips on how local businesses can support each other through COVID.
FAMILY LIFE...p20
Kelly Farrell of Oak Learners highlights South Etobicoke’s local library’s.
GOOD-BYE CITY...p22 Reuben McCallum looks forward to Springtime in the Country. Published By
FIAT LUX MEDIA
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS s the only
free, monthly magazine that’s focused on life in South Etobicoke. It is mailed to houses in Long Branch, New Toronto & Mimico by Canada Post. Additional copies are available for pick-up at Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch and Espresso Bar Namaste in Alderwood. 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 Follow Us on Instagram @etobicokelakeshorepress #I EL www.etobicokelakeshorepress.com
ETOBICOKE APPAREL Co. Cuddle up in a cozy sweater while we stay home this winter.
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Exclusively at Espresso Bar Namaste: 392 Brown's Line www.apparelco.ca Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE WINNING THE WAR zine in 2015 to support my family and to help others. If I can be of service to you, please reach out. As always, thank you very much for reading this edition,
ROGER TUMMINIERI
Publisher, Etobicoke Lakeshore Press
etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com @etobicokelakeshorepress Welcome to our March 2021 edition! Before we get into this month’s feature story, I’d like to say a special thank-you to all those who participated in our first “ ” campaign. By all accounts, it was a great success and fulfilled our mission to foster more love for Etobicoke-Lakeshore! Check out page 11 to see who participated and showed their Love for the community. Speaking about Community - Alderwood’s Office146 (the “community within a community”) has been hard at work helping local businesses find and secure government grants and funding to help cope with the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of this edition is on Kyle Bruinsman, a Management Consultant at Office146. He’s leading the way by helping businesses fight the battles they don’t necessarily have the time to fight so they can focus their sights on winning the war against COVID.
FRESH OFF THE PRESS www.etobicokelakeshorepress.com
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Read this month’s cover story starting on page 10. Spring is on the way. That means Easter is coming. On behalf of my wife, Jessica, and our boys, Jax and Luke, I’d like to wish you all a great start to springtime and a very Happy Easter! Thank you to all of Ad Partners who continue to support this publication and our podcast show especially during these tough times. If you’re a local business owner struggling right now, please reach out to me. I started this maga-
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
COVER STORY SECURING GRANTS & FUNDING It was the evening of March 11th, 2020, and I was flipping through basketball games as I am known to do on a weeknight after a busy day. Rudy Gobert, a French NBA star who had playfully mocked the idea of a pandemic a couple of nights prior by touching all of the microphones in a press conference had just tested positive. The NBA decided to shut down – first that particular game and then the whole league. That was the moment when I knew things were getting serious. I’m sure you had a similar moment, just like we did with 9/11 or Princess Diana. A significant portion of the world would shut down not long afterward. Depending on when you are reading this, it has been about a year. For many of us, it has been a difficult year. Personally, professionally, mentally, physically... all of it. Towards the beginning of the pandemic, I was fortunate to be working as a Management Consultant for a Cannabis Company. I was helping them expand their operations into Colombia by advising on things like trade routes, hiring, taxation, market analysis, and soliciting outside
KYLE BRUINSMA
Management Consultant, Office146 146 Thirtieth St (South of Horner Ave) kyle.bruinsma@office146.com 416-834-4681 www.office146.com
funding. We were working out of Office146, a modern co-working and office space with a tightly knit community of businesses in South Etobicoke. Continued on Page 16
Fostering More Love for Etobicoke - Lakeshore Special Thanks to
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COMMUNITY REALISTIC OPTIMISM “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” - John Wooden I had started to write this piece for the March issue of Etobicoke Lakeshore Press, choosing the above quote as a starting point when I began to see posts appearing on my Facebook and Instagram pages advertising “ ”. Well, isn’t our publisher, Roger, a shining example of making the best of the way things turn out? In addition, he’s displaying some realistic optimism with this new campaign. I’m certain that, despite this year-long pandemic, all the changes and challenges it has brought to our lives have left no one immune. To put a positive spin on the pandemic, a Herculean win for this community over the past year has been that our local retailers and service providers have gone beyond to successfully adapt and reframe their businesses and continue to serve this community. Despite taking a huge hit to their bottom line, many refused to believe that the road was ending without options and got creative.
relationship. Sit with it. Think about all the reasons your brain classifies this memory, image or relationship as something good. Continue to do this anytime you feel anxious or find yourself veering into negative territory. Over time, your brain will train itself to look on the bright side, rather than giving into the negativity of the moment. Celebrate and support local and what they’re going through. For now, signing off from a place of calm, joy and love.
Amanda I am a Self-Care Coach. I help professionals get their sh*t together without hundreds of hours of therapy. I help to guide and support you in creating a healthy mindset and habits that will bring a positive impact to your life, often using my own experiences as a reference point. If you would like to hop on a call and hear more “please reach out to me.“ AMANDA KIRKLAND Self-Care Coach & Long Branch Resident amanda@bluconsulting.biz
Our retailers have been supporting the local community! Yes, that means us. In some cases, depending on the business this was not possible at any cost. I know I can speak for all when saying, we look forward to when your doors are back open. Working to maintain a positive spin on a difficult experience is essential to physical and mental health. But how do we go about doing this when the world news reports are nothing but bad news? It’s difficult to reframe a pandemic as a wonderful experience. Sometimes, positive thoughts and words of encouragement are what’s needed at the moment. I’m not pretending things are fine, things will improve. It won’t always be bleak. Things will return to normal. This 12-second trick trains your brain to be more positive. Spend at least 12 seconds recalling a positive memory, image or
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NUTAN BROWN Sales Representative
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LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS COMMUNITY IS Since the beginning of the New Year I’ve had trouble reading and writing because I am in a perpetual state of eye-rolling.
online format. Roger, like all entrepreneurs and small business owners, had to shift again when the pandemic hit.
Vaccine delays coupled with political blame games. Eye roll.
Why? To feed our families while fulfilling a life purpose and calling; these are the driving forces fuelling the dreamers and doers who build small business.
Kids to-go-or-not-to-go-to school. Eye roll. Rumours about Mayor John Tory spending a weekend at his $10-million Florida mansion. Really? Eye roll. As we march toward our one-year anniversary living life this way – locked down and shut down mentally, emotionally and physically – it’s tempting to lose hope that life will rebound better and brighter. Our pandemic losses range from the indescribable, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt your loved one died alone, to the trauma and indignity of poverty whether new because of job loss or long-time and escalating toward homelessness. As a species we rarely, if ever, try to measure what we stand to gain from life’s cruel sucker punches. Of course, we can easily focus on the loss of local jobs, neighbourhood vibrancy, culture, flexibility, convenience and spontaneity. The impact of loss is especially real for me, my colleagues and the devastated families we serve because grief is acute suffering like no other; dying and death are all about loss. Or is it? I believe it’s still too early to talk about the “gifts of the pandemic.” The families and individuals I watch transform and transcend their grief – in time, not overnight or by “staying busy” – are people who count all they’ve gained from loving the person who has died. A painful loss shape-shifts into a gift of gain, whether it’s life lessons, gratitude for joyful memories or the freedom of forgiveness, for themselves and/or the deceased. As we are forced to watch our community and way of life change, might life feel better if we remain open to what good is emerging? An example that’s close to home? Our esteemed publisher, Roger Tumminieri. Here’s a lovely man who years ago dedicated himself (and his young family) to the rollercoaster wild ride of community magazine publishing. A successful magazine that grew and shifted to an
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The stakes are high for us. When a local business is shuttered, a bright radiant dream is smothered and extinguished, and local culture lurches one step closer toward gentrification. Could Roger have ever imagined that by “losing” his original business model and income, he would gain new opportunities and inspiration? I sincerely doubt Roger looked into a crystal ball and saw himself renting a giant truck this winter, plastering giant stickers all over the vehicle and driving around spreading his homemade “I love Etobicoke-Lakeshore (EL)” message. A grassroots promotion of local culture and community is a gain – for all of us. Community is immunity against fear, apathy and disconnection. Roger, who is blushing right now, is doing his part to “love local” and “support local.” He’s assuming all the risks and we are reaping the rewards whether it’s showcasing local biz or increasing community pride. How are the rest of us doing? Like most people, I am not a big fan of “virtue signalling” – publicly preaching opinions intended to reflect well on personal character – so I’ll admit I often fail miserably as I make choices about what to buy and whom to buy it from. In simplest terms, and what’s rarely discussed, is the sophisticated consumer intention and creativity that’s demanded when we want to “shop local” and “love local.” The nefarious nature of big-box shopping has always been its convenience and uniformity. Thanks to the 12-month attack on small business and local culture (i.e., closed until further notice), uncreative thinking and shopping are becoming increasingly common. Who has time to critically think through the lens of “How can I vote with my dollars?” or “How can I help my neighbourhood today?” or “What local business has what I’m looking for?” or “How can I stop buying from the Death Star called Amazon?” Until we actually stop protesting the gentrification of our neighbourhoods and communities while claiming we have no power or no choice, policies will continue to favour – and bail out – big business over small; that inequality is as old as the
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
IMMUNITY hills, but still we rise. Let me jump down off my soapbox and invite you down into the underworld. What does “love local” mean in my industry? First off, allowing Roger to park his “I love Etobicoke-Lakeshore” truck in our parking lot! But seriously. “Loving local” shows up as not buying caskets from China. Not giving dollars to Texasbased corporate funeral home conglomerates. Not RSVPing “yes” to a pandemic-style funeral or visitation and then being a noshow. Didn’t see that coming? Sadly, we do all the time. Funnelling our dollars throughout the neighbourhood so we save local entrepreneurs and community culture takes critical thinking and creativity, absolutely. But showing up to a local funeral does not require brain power. Attendance does demand courage and bravery, and not because of Covid. Remember being a teenager and no one coming to your party? No? Well, I know what that feels like. (I’m originally from Hamilton and loved tap dancing as a kid.) Imagine grieving the death of someone you love during this terrible pandemic. You reach out for help, support, love, respect, friendship and compassion from your community. In many ways you are defiant in the face of fear and choose community and connection (i.e., host a service) over convenience (i.e., have a funeral “later,” which likely means “never”).
BRAD JONES
Owner, Ridley Funeral Home
When we consciously and creatively choose to “love local,” we’re doing more than saving the community. We’re protecting all that makes us human. Let us not mask or muzzle our natural instinct to shield and show love to our most tender and fragile people. Whether it’s a store front or a funeral pew, the world known as your neighbourhood needs us to step up and show up. Each of us has a starring role in planting goodness into the communities we call home.
In every community across Canada (and the world) funerals are still happening. Two-day visitations are still getting booked. RSVPs are mandatory. Social distancing is in effect.
Community is immunity. Let’s see if Roger will put that slogan on his “I love Etobicoke-Lakeshore” truck.
Except for a desolate outport in Newfoundland at the very beginning of the pandemic, the virus has never been traced back to a funeral home. Our “homes” have always been gathering spaces for community.
Brad Jones is president of locally-owned, commission-free Ridley Funeral Home (3080 Lake Shore Blvd) in Etobicoke. He’s loving local by writing positive online reviews (they matter), boycotting big-box shopping (including Amazon) and streaming live local theatre so he can pretend he’s downtown, dressed up and celebrating date night. You’re always welcome to reach out by calling 416-259-3705 or emailing bradjones@ridleyfuneralhome.com .
Yes, undertakers are not the sexiest advocates and allies of “shop local” and “love local” campaigns. But every day, like it or not, we open our doors to neighbours, families and friends with one single intention: to make another family, a devastated family, feel that they are not alone.
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COVER STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
KYLE BRUINSMA
Management Consultant at Office146 in Alderwood 146 Thirtieth St (South of Horner Ave) kyle.bruinsma@office146.com 416-834-4681 www.office146.com
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I noticed many of the businesses in Office146 were approaching the building’s staff or each other asking for advice on what to do in the new landscape. Shortly after, Office146 decided to start a new division called the Business Advisory Team to help businesses navigate this confusing new world. They helped with everything from market analysis to hiring to international expansion and more. That’s when I came on board. I wanted to help. Eventually, we found that there is one primary thing businesses need now more than ever: funds.
“I didn’t know which programs I could apply for. And I’ve since learned that with some grants if you apply for one, you can’t apply to another,” explained Carlo. “Some of those applications have 10, 20 pages. They ask about your back story, your financials, why you should receive the money, a breakdown of where the money is going, and more. Office146 helped me to communicate my narrative and make sure I had the best chance of getting funding. Everything Office146 did for us was based on our unique situation.”
58,000 businesses shut down in Canada during 2020. A further 181,000 are contemplating shutting down soon. That’s about one in six.
Carlo continued, “The money I am now getting through funding changes everything. I am hiring even more staff than I originally planned back in 2020. I am expanding my business to other provinces. I am even starting a second business that helps train people in the media space. It’s made a world of difference to me and to my family.”
The problem is that - while businesses are well aware they urgently need funds - they have less time than ever to secure those funds. They are bogged down fighting day-to-day battles in the hopes they can eventually win the war. Get an extra sale here. Cut a cost there. When Carlo Greco from a national media company first approached us, he knew the importance of what he was asking for. “We had been around since 2015 and our revenues had increased every year.” said Carlo. “Then came 2020.” Carlo runs Preferred Magazine, an upscale magazine that can be found in first-class on Air Canada flights or Via Rail trips. “I had big plans, but my revenues dropped off a cliff,” he explained. “I didn’t know what was next for the business. I thought maybe I would have to pause operations. And in this business if you stop, you can’t come back, you are done.”
There has never been more funding available. Programs include CEBA (Canada Emergency Business Account), CERS (Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy), and the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant. Our Advisory Board includes a former Director at Business Development Canada, a CEO of several successful international companies, and a Scientific Grant Writer. I am proud to represent them now. “As a Management Consultant with Office146, my team and I can help.” Right now, we are offering a free consultation to discuss grants, tax credits, subsidies, and other COVID-19 stimulus measures that might be available. Call me today at (416) 834-4681 or email me at kyle.bruinsma@office146.com.
Getting private or government funding can be complicated and stressful.
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CARLO GRECO
Publisher, Preferred Magazine
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FINANCE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER
Local economies have been hit hard by COVID-19 and many small businesses are struggling to stay afloat, since most non-essential services were required to temporarily close. Now more than ever Canadian business owners are seeing the importance of community support, not only from residents but from other small businesses. Here are a few ways local businesses can support one another. Shop local Many residents have adopted a ‘shop local’ initiative to help vulnerable businesses. As of 2018, small businesses made up about 97.9% of the Canadian economy. It’s clear that local businesses are an integral part of our economy. That’s why it’s important for local businesses to also adhere to the ‘shop local’ initiative and support one another during these challenging times. Whether you need office supplies, repairs, or electronic upgrades, start by researching local companies in your area that offer what you need rather than immediately turning to big-box retailers and chains. If you’re a restaurant owner, you can improve the local economy by purchasing food from local farmers, who have also been greatly affected by the pandemic. Celebrate each other’s successes with crosspromotion Teaming up with other small businesses and forming a partnership through cross-promotion can be extremely beneficial to the overall success of your company. Given the current economy, many small business owners have been looking for creative ways to not only generate revenue but also retain customers. Cross-promotion allows companies to market to each other’s customers. This exposure will create brand awareness and help grow your base with very little cost. It also improves the local economy, as it will encourage residents to continue to shop within their neighbourhood. It can be as simple as a congratulatory post on your social media when a local business near you reopens, or a more detailed strategy that could involve hosting Instagram Lives with other local business owners, mentioning each other in your marketing materials, or setting up a reciprocal referral program.
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Be vocal about your involvement in the community It’s important to remember that we’re all in this together. As a small business, creating relationships with fellow business owners and supporting one another is important, as you are all equally invested in the success and longevity of your community. Reaching out to other local businesses in your area and connecting is a great way to network, share your passions, and create friendships with like-minded members of your community who are facing similar hardships. Showing support of your community and your staff is also good for business! In a recent study, 53% of respondents feel ‘purpose-driven’ companies have fared better during the pandemic, while 67% of young people want brands to keep them informed on how they’re supporting employees. A lot of businesses have also been offering essential workers discounted or free services as a thank you. If your business can afford to do so, this is a great way to strengthen your relationship with residents, show you are committed to your community, and give back. At Moya Financial, one of their core values is community. They pride themselves on their strong and loyal membership and decades of service to the Southern Ontario community. Their success has been a result of offering personalized financial services and cultivating a relationship-driven environment. This article is not intended to provide financial or financial planning advice, please call or email Moya Financial and they will be more than happy to chat with you! Become a member today! Start your application online at www.moyafinancial.ca. 747 Brown’s Line, Toronto ON M8W 3V7 Call: 416 255 1742 Email: main@moyafinancial.ca
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
FAMILY LIFE LOCAL LIBRARIES BUILD LITERACY Learning to love reading can be one of the most important gifts we give to our children. Yet, all too often, the arduous process of learning to read can dampen a child’s desire to want to read for pleasure. For many parents, the past year of virtual learning has provided a spotlight onto children’s learning and highlighted for many how much work actually goes into learning to read. The skill of reading can be broken down into multiple different skills, many of which need to be acquired in a certain order when children are learning to read. First, they need to develop the sounds of oral language, which includes understanding the phonological building blocks that make up sounds, which eventually make up words, which eventually make up sentences. Once children start learning their “A-B-C’s”, they start learning that the written squiggles and lines and circles that we use on paper actually represent the sounds that we speak and they begin to also learn that these letters represent a specific set of sounds that can be combined in seemingly infinite combinations to spell words. It’s a lot of learning condensed into a few short years! This “code” of learning to read and write is not something that comes easily for most children and more and more research is uncovering how important it is to not skip steps and push children ahead. The most important assistance
KELLY FARRELL
Director at Oak Learners; a private alternative school in Mimico located at 394 Royal York Rd. / 416-820-5233 www.oaklearners.ca
any parent can give a child who is learning to read is patience and access to fun and interesting reading materials. The good news is that there are so many ways to find new reading materials locally without spending a dime! Little Free Libraries - on your neighbourhood walks, make a habit to visit Little Free Libraries on your block and check for new books each time! You never know what will spark a child’s interest in a book! Local Public Libraries - every child values their first library card! Take advantage of your library card to provide endless access to new books for your child. Free Book Banks - Local organizations like LAMP Early ON are providing free books to children under 5 with registration. Check out LAMP on Facebook for more information! Neighbourhood Book Swaps - as it gets warmer, connect with your neighbours to organize weekly or monthly book swaps where children can exchange books with friends. Don’t worry too much about finding levelled readers for your child. Instead, find books that will spark their imagination, interest and engagement. Any book that makes a child’s eyes light up is the best book for that child!
Ed’s Real Scoop
If you are looking for more ways to support your child’s reading or fill in gaps in their skill acquisition, contact Oak Learners to learn more about our personalized and unique approach to teaching literacy.
2370 Lake Shore Blvd W www.edsrealscoop.com 20
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GOOD-BYE CITY SPRING IS COMING
REUBEN MCCALLUM
Sales Representative RE/MAX High Country Realty Inc., Brokerage (519) 477-0418 / www.reubenmccallum.com facebook.com/reubenmccallumrealtor
Reuben McCallum is a Realtor and Resident of Grey County, Ontario. Reuben will be contributing content to the Etobicoke Lakeshore Press to highlight the growing movement of people who are leaving city life behind in order to pursue a simpler, quieter life in the country.
Spring is just around the corner and that is just…exciting!
will post some pictures as we get working on our plan for Spring 2021.
For me, this Winter feels like it is dragging on a bit, but I guess it always feels that way when we get to this point in the season. I remember last Spring we were all just getting used to the idea of lockdowns, closures, and cancellations. With all the uncertainty, there was a short period where our Real Estate market slowed (or as close to slow as you can imagine in this craziness) and I found myself with more time on my hands.
If you do not grow your own produce, you will have to visit some local farmer’s markets this year and buy some and do the taste test for yourself. We have a lot of local farm stores up here in beautiful Grey Highlands in Grey County if you’re up for a little drive.
Inspired by the sun, longer days, and a homesteading and survivalist book we bought, my fiancée and I decided it was a great time to grow some veggies at home. I have done my own veg gardens off and on for a few years now. We navigated the learning curve of curbside pick-up from the hardware and co-op stores and got the supplies we needed to build 3 raised boxes - a great teambuilding exercise! I always get satisfaction from picking and eating our own produce and the thrill never gets old. I can’t say we were overly successful but we tried and we were able to have a few dinners supplemented with our own produce. It does taste different, it tastes better! Maybe I
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Whatever you are looking forward to this Spring, I hope you are successful and if you a ready to make a spring move, I am ready to help!
FEATURED PROPERTY 26 Collingwood Street, Flesherton $490,000
For more informations on properties like this and many more in Grey County, please visit my website:
www.reubenmccallum.com
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WELLNESS MAKE BAD DAYS BETTER We all have a bad day now and then. Sometimes, even a whole string of them. Maybe we feel like, lately, we are in an infinite loop of bad days. So, here we are, feeling low, feeling anxious, feeling untethered. And, if you’re like me, you’re looking for ways to pull yourself up and out. Ways to lift your mood and your outlook. One of the very best ways I’ve found to do this is by doing something kind for someone else. Therapeutic kindness, if you will. I am lucky enough to manage an energetic and growing medical clinic in Mimico. This means that my opportunities for kindness are bountiful. I connect patients who haven’t had care for years with a new family doctor I know will provide them with the care they need. I pump up my staff and watch them make sure that every person they come across feels seen and cared for. I guide our expert team of physicians and clinicians through changes in their workflow, largely brought on by the pandemic, and enable them to find a balance between work and life. Plus, I get to do it all in the community I love – a place where my roots are firmly planted and my growth is supported. I support local, and local supports me right back.
LISA MEFFE
Director of Operations Mimico Medical
That example is pretty specific to me, though. Let’s use another one that could work for just about anyone. As it might be for many, grocery
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shopping happens to be one of my favourite pastimes. Again, lucky me. These days, it feels like the only activity to which we are certain we’ll have access, no matter what. But the way I shop has changed, and I think for the better. Of course, I still do a shop at Costco or No Frills every few weeks, but if I need a few ingredients, some fresh meat, produce, or bread, I don’t head to Loblaws like I once did. I reflexively think of Royal York Meat Market, Young’s Produce, Sanremo Bakery, and Blossom Pure Organic. It’s my favourite new habit. They are small- to medium-sized businesses, usually with a single location. In most cases, they are multi-generational, family-run businesses that live to serve the local population. They carefully curate the food they provide because they live in the community that consumes it. Even in a pandemic, their wait-times are minimal or nonexistent, and they have worked incredibly hard in the last 12 months to keep us all safe and fed. These are the places that sustain us, and so, we must never fail to sustain them. Here’s where the kindness comes in – to me, supporting local means more than simply where I shop. It means supporting my social network – my friends, family, colleagues, and members of my community. Thankfully, those two versions of supporting local align nicely. If I find something particularly fresh and delicious, I might purchase some extra and drop it off to someone I love. If I can’t hug them, I will feed them. This locally-sourced kindness does a few things: 1) I spend a little more locally than I need to for just myself. 2) It brings joy to my loved ones and their taste buds – after all, feeling like someone is thinking of you is just the best. 3) I get to check in on someone I care about in a very informal way that feels natural. 4) They are nourished in more ways than one. This, of course, works with local restaurants too. Who knows, the next time I don’t feel like cooking and am picking up a pizza at Romi’s Pizzeria on Bloor, I might just order an extra pie and drop it off to you. And I’ll feel damn good about it!.
LISA MEFFE
Director of Operations Mimico Medical 416.201.0836 www.mimicomedical.com
EXPERIENCE
QUALITY CARE AT
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS FAMILY DOCTORS PHYSIOTHERAPY PSYCHOLOGY & PSYCHIATRY COSMETIC MEDICINE WWW.MIMICOMEDICAL.COM 398 ROYAL YORK RD. 416 ∙ 201 ∙ 0836
WOMEN’S DAY 2021 CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE The theme of International Women’s Day 2021 is “Choose to Challenge.” “A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge,” the IWD site urges. Choose to Challenge: what a great statement – what an important idea! The mission statement for Ontario’s Office of Women’s Issues is “promoting women’s economic independence while fighting against genderbased violence, sexual exploitation and abuse.” The two elements of Ontario’s women’s mission are inextricably linked: economic independence makes it possible for women to escape exploitive situations (or preferably, avoid ever falling into one). While we have made tremendous progress in many of these areas, we acknowledge there remains much work yet to be done. I choose to challenge my colleagues and our government to do even better for women and girls, now and in the years ahead. I am very proud to say that here in EtobicokeLakeshore, we are surrounded by and benefit from an amazing community who bring these words to life every single day, choosing to challenge in the business sphere. Women like Marta Pozniakowski, at Namaste Espresso Bar and a “REMAX Realtor” for Alderwood; Karen Lai, President and Founder at KPM Power; Landai Truong, Owner, Lan Dai Nails &; Spa; and Cyndi Bodanis at Our Walk iN Closet Inc. These businesswomen have risen to the challenge of running a business during COVID-19 and continue to contribute to our community. Ontario is supporting them, and others like them, in every way we can. Others are choosing to challenge in the realm
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of service and support. These include Susan Carbone, Event and Fundraising Director at Haven on the Queensway; Keddone Dias, Executive Director and Jasmin Dooh, Health Promoter Community Relations Specialist at the LAMP Community Health Centre, Lara Root, Chair at the Jean Tweed Centre; Carla Neto, Community Programs Manager at Woman’s Habitat: Shelter and Outreach for Women; Maria Barcelos, Executive Director at The Gatehouse; Jean Augustine, President at Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment and Diane Dupuy, Founder and President, Famous People Players to name a few. There are so many generous and diligent women and men, rising to the challenge of making our community a better place every day, I am sorry I cannot list them all here. But we are proud of and appreciate all of you, and are working to support you during these difficult times. As we prepare for Women’s Day on March 8th, I am proud to highlight that on February 22nd, Ontario announced new legislation, the Combatting Human Trafficking Act. This proposed legislation reinforces Ontario’s commitment to fight human trafficking and demonstrates continued leadership in responding to this pervasive crime. From the earliest days of my own career, I “chose to challenge” and was the first woman Executive Director of my Party. I know what a challenging grind it can be to blaze new trails; fortunately, I also know how wonderful and helpful it is to have a fully supportive spouse cheering me on, every step of the way. Together, we work as a team, which is the reality I wish for every woman, every man, and every family in Ontario. I hope you and your family get to enjoy a wonderful Women’s Day, celebrating all those who fought for us in the past, and the next generation of “challengers” growing up now.
Stay safe,
Christine
CHRISTINE HOGARTH
MPP ETOBICOKE - LAKESHORE
www.apparelco.ca ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
Celebrating International Women’s Day 2021 Together #ChoosetoChallenge
ALL IN FOR EQUALITY There is no limit to what we can achieve together.
You can reach my office at 416-259-2249 or christine.hogarth@pc.ola.org Sign up for my e-newsletter: christinehogarthmpp.ca COVID-19 support link: covidsupports.ca/mpphogarth
HUMBER COLLEGE COMMUNITY UPDATE
HUMBER COLLEGE LAKESHORE CAMPUS
The month of March brings a global anniversary that is difficult to ignore as we continue through this global pandemic. While much has been lost over the past year, it is also an opportunity to recognize resilience and celebrate how much we have adapted. I continue to be inspired by how our local community and the Humber Lakeshore campus have responded to these challenges. The Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre continues to offer opportunities for community engagement and reflection. Their newest initiative will be presented with Humber’s Black Academic Success and Engagement (BASE) program. The event is positioned as a fireside chat. The Interpretive Centre and the BASE have invited three speakers to be interviewed by a student about their research and careers. The speakers, two historians and an artist - all have strong ties to research related to Black heritage in Etobicoke and Toronto. While February is known as Black History Month, Humber is focused on supporting Black Heritage 365 days a year.
NATASHA HENRY
President of the Ontario Black History Society
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On March 30, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., the series will host Natasha Henry, the President of the Ontario Black History Society, PhD candidate and educator. The next guest, Channon Oyeniran, the Vice President of the Ontario Black History Society, will be interviewed from 4.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 8. Finally, on April 15 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., artist and educator Quentin VerCetty will wrap up the series. VerCetty recently created a sculpture recognizing freedom seeker Joshua Glover in Etobicoke. These are free events open to the entire community. All you have to do is register and you will be sent a link to the event. To learn more, visit lakeshoregrounds.ca/events. Once you’re there, I encourage you to take a look at our new Humber Cultural Hub website. I have been providing updates on the project periodically, but now you can track its progress online.
CHANNON OYENIRAN
Vice President of the Ontario Black History Society
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
QUENTIN VERCETTY Artist & Educator
The Cultural Hub will be a new destination for arts and culture in Etobicoke and provide muchneeded capacity to meet the growing demand for skilled talent in creative industries. Here are a few things you can do with the new website: • View the most recent renderings of the Cultural Hub building • Explore Humber’s Unlimited Campaign which helps support Humber Lakeshore’s campus evolution. • View rough timelines for the program, explore a map of the future Cultural Hub and check out before and after images. • Learn how the project will benefit the community and how you can get involved. • Learn about our Media & Creative Arts programs and students, who will benefit greatly from the facilities and the innovation at the Cultural Hub. • Find out more about our partnerships and Humber’s Centre of Innovation (COI) network. The Humber Cultural Hub is a massive project that will have a big impact on our campus and community. I’m so glad you’re able to follow along. Our campus is still partially closed and movement onsite will continue to be limited next semester. For this reason, Humber College has focused on providing the best online learning experience possible for those who are learning virtually.
Though physical connection and construction are limited, Humber College continues to provide students and the community with new virtual experiences. We look forward to welcoming you to all the new places and spaces in person once we get through this year together. For more information about the Call for Submissions, email info@lakeshoregrounds.ca. To learn more about what’s happening at Humber Lakeshore, visit humber.ca/lakeshorecampus or check out our social media accounts, @HumberLakeshore on Twitter and Instagram
Best wishes, Derek Stockley
This includes students who are attending the just-opened Humber International Graduate School. Students at the Humber IGS are generally international students who hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The building is in downtown Toronto, located in the country’s economic epicenter and is surrounded by a population made up of people from all over the world. Not only does the Humber IGS offer brand new classrooms and study spaces, it also offers the polytechnic experience Humber is known for. Work-integrated programs, networking opportunities and an alumni mentorship program are intended to help students succeed and make important contacts prior to graduation. Programs are tailored specifically for international graduate students to ensure successful transition to learning and working in Canada.
DEREK STOCKLEY
Principal, Lakeshore Campus Senior Dean, Faculty of Social and Community Services Follow on Twitter: @derek_stockley
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YOUR HEALTH TAKING CARE WITH SELF LOVE As a pharmacy, we are doing our best to continue and provide the care that you need at a time when access to healthcare can be questionable. You may have noticed that we are engaging our patients in more 1-on-1 consultations to understand their current health care needs. We’ll continue to do this work because it is important. The big topic on everyone’s mind is the COVID vaccine. Like everyone, we are waiting for the big news and clarity on what will be coming forward. If we are a part of the vaccination efforts, I will ensure that we can provide vaccinations to whoever wants them in the most convenient and efficient way possible.
JONATHAN NHAN, RPh, CDE Pharmacist / @nhanjonathan903
I hope you are all keeping well. We are coming around to the one year mark on this pandemic. Have you checked in with yourself and taken stock about how you are doing? Sometimes it feels like there are many things outside our control, and it is good to remember that there are many things that are within our control.
At the beginning of the pandemic last year, the common phrase I heard was “We’re all in this together”. This is probably one of the biggest shared experiences that any generation of people have lived through and it was a true statement. Moving into this year, I like to think of a new phrase: Stronger Together. Not only are we in it together, but when we work together, take care of one another, and help each other out, we will be stronger for it. Reach out to others if you ever need help. If there’s any help that you can provide, lift someone up. We’ll continue to be here to provide whatever we can and support our community.
Self-care is one of them. Please remember to take the time for yourself, and to take the time that you need. Remember that it is okay if some days you feel less than positive. Even before the pandemic, I remember having ups and downs. Maybe the downs were not as down, and the ups were higher up, but there were always fluctuations.
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