December 17

Happy Holidays!

Serving LESLIEVILLE, SOUTH RIVERDALE and RIVERSIDE

COUNCILLOR

Paula Fletcher

www.beachmirror.com thurs dec 17, 2015

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE SAT, DEC 19, 1-3 PM VISIT PAULAFLETCHER.CA FOR DETAILS

inside David Nickle is on the city hall beat / 4

416-774-2363

®

Barry’s Bears gives the gift of teddies

sharing with santa

See our weekly events listings /5 photos Notre Dame High School students make waves at cardboard boat races / 3

JOANNA LAVOIE jlavoie@insidetoronto.com

shopping wagjag.com amazing deals on group discounts

shop.ca

shop and earn, every time!

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keep in touch @BchRivMirror www.facebook.com/ TheBeachMirror

more online

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Staff photo/BENJAMIN PRIEBE

Shea Marhue speaks with Santa Claus and one of his elves, while mom takes a photo, during a special event held at the Gardener’s Cottage in Kew Park Saturday. The event was presented by the Toronto Beach Rotary Club.

Bidding wraps up for Nellie’s Shelter online holiday auction The fifth annual online holiday auction for Nellie’s Shelter for Women and Children will wrap up for the season on Friday, Dec. 18.

The fundraiser features a wide and eclectic array of gifts

including novelty and household items, dinner and entertainment to gift certificates, event tickets, gift baskets and services, and much more, supports the women and children at Nellie’s.

The auction kicked off Friday, Nov. 13 and new items are being added daily at www.nelliesmarketplace.com All proceeds from the fundraiser are used to buy food, and pay for transportation and

other necessary supports to help Nellie’s clients have a safe and warm holiday season.

Visit www.nelliesmarketplace.com or call 416-461-0769 for details about Nellie’s Online Holiday Auction.

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While this holiday season won’t be an easy one for Danielle Small and her daughter, Molly Rae, they will find comfort in knowing the memory of their late father and grandfather will live on through the 500-plus teddy bears they’ve helped collect and donate to the Hospital for Sick Children and four Toronto women’s shelters in his honour.

“It’s awesome and it’s in memory of my Papa,” said 12-year-old Molly Rae Tuesday, while packing stuffed animals into large bags inside the lobby of 55 Division police station.

“I love him and this is a nice thing to do for the kids at Christmas.”

Const. Barry Small, a lifelong Scarborough resident who worked the majority of his 40-year career at the eastend Toronto police division, died of lymphoma Aug. 3. He was 67. >>>const, page 6

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2 BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015 |

police

Man ‘not criminally responsible’ in stabbing death of Dominic Parker Beach firefighter killed at café on Danforth Avenue

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A 26-year-old Toronto man has been found not criminally responsible for the September 2013 death of off-duty firefighter Dominic Parker at a Danforth Avenue establishment.

Parker, a 45-year-old Beach Triangle resident who worked as a firefighter in Markham, was off-duty when he was stabbed to death at the former Rotana Café at 1530 Danforth Ave., just west of Coxwell Avenue.

Nabil Huruy, who has a mental disorder, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Parker’s death, which Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer made clear was not provoked.

The court heard Huruy and the victim did not know each other, but that Huruy repeatedly stabbed Parker after he sat down next to him at the café before fleeing in a taxi.

In his Dec. 10 ruling, Nordheimer found that Huruy is not criminally responsible for Parker’s death and experts concluded the accused did not know his actions were morally wrong, and that he likely suffers from schizophrenia.

Huruy had previously made statements about people and

the government being after him, Nordheimer wrote.

“Mr. Huruy was paranoid, had armed himself with two knives and was the subject of delusions, including hearing voices,” Nordheimer wrote.

“He believed there were people, apparently on behalf of the government, who were intent on causing him harm, if not death.”

Huruy’s behaviour was also abnormal just days before the incident, Nordheimer wrote in his ruling.

The accused was found on the roof of a school with bags of clothing he had taken from a mosque. He told police he had been on the roof playing soccer. Police gave him a trespass notice.

That same day, Huruy was found standing on an overpass above Hwy. 401, with a large ring around his neck. He told police the ring was part of him, wrote Nordheimer, and said he had a special attraction to the highway because it was called the Highway of Heroes.

Given the verdict, he will now fall under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Review Board, which will decide in which mental health institution he will be kept in custody.

Nordheimer acknowledged at the end of his ruling that the verdict will bring little comfort to Parker’s family.

“Here the family and friends of Dominic Parker are left to know that they lost their loved

one for no reason, other than he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he wrote.

“It is a fate that could have befallen any other person who was in that café at that time, or, indeed, it could have befallen any other person who happened to encounter Mr. Huruy, while he was in his delusional state, and thus become a perceived threat to him.”

Parker’s widow, Zilla, posted a statement on Facebook indicating this case highlights the need for more understanding of mental health issues.

“We need more funding in our healthcare system, more funding for research, more education and awareness,” she wrote.

“There is obviously a huge need for improvement on our current system. This is the conversation I believe we should be having. Maybe we can prevent this tragedy from happening to another family.”

Jeremy Acton, president of the Markham Professional Firefighters Association, called Parker’s death a loss to the entire department.

“He truly was a wonderful guy,” he said.

“He had no enemies. He was living the dream and loved everything he was doing.”

– Joanna Lavoie with files from Torstar News Service

Police seek feedback on body-worn cameras 55 Division officers part of the pilot project Toronto police are reaching out for feedback on their bodyworn camera pilot project.

About 100 officers from 43 Division, 55 Division, TAVIS and traffic services began wearing the cameras May 18.

The cameras are activated every time an officer responds

to a call or is investigating someone.

As part of the evaluation process, police have mailed out surveys to “randomly selected community members” who have interacted with an officer outfitted with a camera.

“Having experienced the use of body-worn cameras firsthand, this input will provide a valuable perspective,” police said in a Monday news release. “The feedback received through these surveys will assist the service greatly in

the evaluation process.”

At the launch of the pilot project, Staff Supt. Tom Russell said body-worn cameras will provide “an unbiased, accurate account of our interactions with the public” and could “strengthen our relations with our community and enhance public trust.”

Three cameras are being tested, and the $500,000 project ends in March.

Officers are expected to notify the public when activating the cameras.

– Andrew Palamarchuk

3

Helper with a ‘heart of gold’ makes sure Riverdale families get holiday hampers

splashy finish

JOANNA LAVOIE jlavoie@insidetoronto.com

making waves: Above, Notre Dame High School’s Miranda Manalakos paddles to a firstplace finish during the Skills Canada Cardboard Boat Races held last week at Bishop MarroccoThomas Merton Catholic Secondary School. At left, Notre Dame sailors Shalom Delmundo, left, Toni Lews, Jaria Jelloh, and Kalysta Nejia-Torres take an unscheduled dip during the races. The competition tests students’ ability to build a floating structure that will outperform all others in speed and weight challenges.

Photos/Peter C. McCusker

Be a deer, support the Riverside Antler Breakfast Queen St. E. Friday at Broadview Avenue.

The event will include full breakfast, live holiday music, door prizes, a 50/50 draw, souvenir antlers, and a chance for everyone in atten-

dec

The Riverside Business Improvement Area, Culinary Adventure Co., and An Sibin Pub are hosting their fourth annual Riverside Antler Breakfast tomorrow.

The Irish fry-up for a great cause will run from 8 to 11 a.m. at An Sibin Pub, 709

18

PLUS HST

dance to share their Christmas wishes with Santa Claus.

Proceeds from the Riverside Antler Breakfast will benefit the Rivertowne Breakfast Program, a weekly community-run program for local children and anyone in need of a hot breakfast.

Tickets cost $20, or $10 for children under 12.

Visit https://kiosk.eztix.co/ kiosk-optimised/110223 to buy tickets.

For information, email Anjuli Solanki at walkon@ riverside-to.com or call 647773-2547 or 416-466-8167.

This holiday season will be an extra special one for 16 lowerincome families whose children attend Riverside’s Queen Alexandra Middle School.

Thanks to the anonymous efforts of the school’s teachers and staff members, the eastend families will be receiving two or three boxes filled with gifts, toys, non-perishable food, and clothing just in time for Christmas.

Brenda Hind, a long-time Leslieville resident who moved to Scarborough two years ago, has worked at Queen A for the last nine or so years as a lunchtime supervisor. She’s also the founder and co-ordinator of the school’s breakfast/snack program, which feeds upwards of 120 children every day.

Having grown up in a lowincome, single-parent family of five children, Hind said she can clearly see the signs when families of students at Queen Alexandra are struggling to make ends meet and could use a little hand up.

Just like the breakfast/snack program, Hind launched the school’s Secret Santa campaign after observing a need for it about eight years ago.

“For the Christmas hampers, it’s all really last minute.

I don’t even tell the families,” said Hind, adding in most cases students aren’t even aware their family has been selected to receive a hamper.

“It’s literally a few days before the Christmas break that I call up the families and we deliver a few boxes to them.”

The process actually starts

Staff photo/Joanna Lavoie

Brenda Hind leads a hamper campaign at Queen Alexandra Middle School.

months earlier as Queen A teachers and staff members identify families in the school community who could most benefit from a Christmas care package and work to assemble gifts and non-perishable food items for them.

Hind has also organized an annual coat drive for students as well as a yearly Thanksgiving meal at the school, which is on Broadview Avenue, north of Queen Street East.

“I call myself the school mom,” said Hind.

Principal Emma Nichols can’t say enough about Hind’s generous spirit.

“She has a massive heart, a heart of gold. She does it all.

Brenda is a powerhouse of energy,” Nichols said earlier this week.

“She spends a lot of time with the kids and they confide in her and she does her best to meet their needs.”

i

Anyone interested in helping can email Brenda Hind at Brenda.Hind@tdsb.on.ca

| BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015

community

BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015 |

4

opinion

The Beach Mirror is published every Thursday at 175 Gordon Baker Rd., Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2, by Metroland Media Toronto, a Division of Metroland Media Group Ltd.

®

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WHO WE SERVE

Publisher General Manager Managing Editor Regional Dir. of Distribution Sales Regional Dir. of Advertising Retail Sales Manager Director of Circulation

Beach Mirror

The Mirror is a member of the Ontario Press Council. Visit ontpress.com

City of Toronto

Citizens must condemn ‘blip’ of gun violence W

hile the recent uptick in gun violence that took place in Toronto this past week shouldn’t be cause for alarm, it should be a call for law-abiding citizens to condemn any violent crimes regardless of where they occur in the city.

Beginning Friday afternoon, a fatal drive-by shooting was reported in the entertainment district downtown, which was followed by a separate shooting incident at a small plaza minutes away from Fairview Mall near Don Mills Road and Sheppard Avenue.

The following night, police responded to a call after gunfire erupted at Keele Street and Eglinton Avenue where a baby shower was taking place in a nearby building. Police Chief Saunders reassured the our view Mark public that Toronto remains one of the safest urban cities in Join groups North America, calling the rash of weekend violence “a blip.” working He added that police will be doing what they can to bring for safe down the number of shooting communities incidents.

But it’s not just a police and law enforcement issue.

Whenever gun violence is reported anywhere in the city, there’s a danger in the complacency felt by residents when they discover such violent acts have taken place in another neighbourhood.

Instead of just reading the headlines in the newspaper and shrugging a shoulder, there may be opportunities to get involved with organizations that are already working to make communities safer through a number of outreach initiatives.

Perhaps more can be done to ensure residents and businesses in at-risk neighbourhoods feel less neglected and isolated by demonstrating any violence in the city is unacceptable.

Torontonians do indeed have the privilege of living in a safe city, but it will take more than just the police doing their jobs to keep it that way.

So while it shouldn’t be a cause for alarm that Toronto streets are no longer safe, it should be a cause for concern that not all violent crimes are taken seriously.

Proudly serving the communities of The Beach • East End-Danforth Greenwood-Coxwell South Riverdale Woodbine Corridor Beach Hill

Write us The Beach Mirror welcomes letters of 400 words or less. All submissions must include name, address and a daytime telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters.

Copyright in letters remains with the author but the publisher and affiliates may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. Letters can be sent to press@insidetoronto. com, or mailed to The Beach Mirror, 175 Gordon Baker Rd. Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2.

column

Former mayor’s tax breeds complacency

L

et us take a moment to sing the praises of David Miller.

This has not been a popular pastime for many years. Indeed, it made one suspect in certain circles from nearly the moment Torontonians decided to elect him mayor in 2003. Try saying a good word about Miller in 2007, the year he strong-armed Toronto councillors into approving the Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT), and you’d be run out of certain parts of town even whistling a happy tune.

Well, that was then.

On Tuesday morning, Toronto’s new city manager Peter Wallace made it clear that everybody – taxa-phobic conservatives and spend-o-philes in the ranks of the municipal New Democratic Party, and everybody in between – owe it all to the blond lawyer from High Park and his notion of raising revenues by taxing real estate trans-

david nickle the city actions.

The Municipal Land Transfer Tax, Wallace explained at the 2016 operating and capital budget launch, is the single biggest factor in allowing Toronto Council to balance budgets with modest tax increases and reasonable service levels. Nothing has saved this city’s bacon like it.

OK, that’s enough singing now.

Miller’s land transfer tax was what you might call an excellent bet in a highstakes game that led to a series of very lucky breaks for the city.

Revenue from the tax that adds a percentage to real estate transactions has grown steadily year by year, just as the value of real estate transactions has increased, in each year exceeding expectations of

finance staff very dramatically.

Wallace laid it bare.

When property tax revenues were increasing by around two to two-and-a-half per cent a year, the city’s revenue was increasing by about five-and-a-half per cent, and that – not service cuts, not operating efficiencies, not the elimination of trains of gravy – were what kept the city afloat. He also pointed out it is unrealistic to expect this to continue.

That’s still not bad, but it also won’t do. In 2016, the land transfer tax revenue will contribute to the $200 million in new revenue, up $50 million from the $150 million of new revenue the city floated on in 2015. In 2017, Wallace figures we’re looking at $100 million.

That means that left on its own, Toronto will not be able to deal with its real inflationary rate – four to four-and-a-half per cent – using its existing revenue tools and keeping property

taxes at historic rates.

Politicians can respond to this in a couple of ways.

One, they can genuinely reduce the size of local government to fall in line with inflationary property tax increases. That will mean cutting services, limiting growth, tough labour negotiations and firing staff.

Or they can go to property taxpayers and tell them to pay more – a lot more – to maintain the city in which they live, and admit that inflation is what the city, not the Bank of Canada, says it is in this town. It will be a job in itself to summon the will to take either course.

Because while Miller’s gift of the land transfer tax has given an ephemeral respite from hard choices, one lasting legacy is complacency.

David Nickle is Metroland Media Toronto’s city hall reporter. His column runs every Thursday. Reach him on Twitter: @DavidNickle

i

newsroom ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-774-2070 | circulation ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-675-3470 | distribution ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-675-3066 | display advertising ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-774-2067 | classifieds ph: 416-798-7284 | administration ph: 416-493-4400

5

BEACH

it’s happening w Thursday, Dec. 17

happening in

Jones Book Club WHEN: 6:30 to 8 p.m. WHERE: Jones Library, 118 Jones Ave. CONTACT: Teresa, 416-393-7715 COST: Free Join the book club and discuss recent books and meet literary-minded friends. This month’s selection is Paula McLain’s ‘The Paris Wife’. The club meets the third Thursday of every month.

w Friday, Dec. 18

Holiday Concert with Cadence WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave. CONTACT: Karen Dale, 416-6918082, office@beachuc.ca COST: $20 general admission, $10 for children under 10

w Wednesday, Dec. 23

Wednesday At The Movies WHEN: 2 p.m. WHERE: Beaches Library, 2161 Queen St. E. CONTACT: 416-393-7703 COST: Free Watch ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ (1946).

w Tuesday, Dec. 29

Toddler Dance Party WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to noon WHERE: Jones Library, 118 Jones Ave. CONTACT: Cathy, 416-393-7715 COST: Free

featured

w Monday, Dec. 21

The Longest Night WHEN: 8 p.m. WHERE: Kingston Road United Church, 975 Kingston Rd. CONTACT: www.battenbergmusic.com COST: Donation of non-perishable food items or a cash donation supporting the Daily Bread Food Bank A musical meditation concert and food drive for the Winter Solstice, written and performed by local guitarist Mark Battenberg.

Check out our complete online community calendar by visiting www. beachmirror.com. Read weeks of listings from your Beach neighbourhood as well as events from across Toronto.

w Friday, Jan. 1

For toddlers and their families.

w Wednesday, Dec. 30

Wednesday At The Movies WHEN: 2 p.m. WHERE: Beaches Library, 2161 Queen St. E. CONTACT: 416-393-7703 COST: Free Watch ‘The Glass Bottom Boat’ (1966).

get listed!

The Beach Mirror wants your community listings. Sign up online at beachmirror.com to submit your events (click the Sign Up link in the top right corner of the page).

Hair of the Dog WHEN: 10 a.m. WHERE: Balmy Beach Club, at the foot of Beech Avenue CONTACT: Gaynor Reader, 416-693-1063, balmybeachcctreasurer@yahoo.ca COST: $30 (early bird $25) 36th annual 3-km and 9-km fun run/ walk on New Year’s Day. Registration begins at the Balmy Beach Club at 10 a.m. Walkers leave at 11:30 and runners at noon. Chili lunch included.

Visit www.balmybeachcanoe.com to sign up online or download the registration form.

w Tuesday, Jan. 19 Write Your Life Stories

WHEN: 9:30 to 11 a.m. WHERE: Community Centre 55, 97 Main St. CONTACT: Evonne Hossack, evonne@centre55.com COST: $45 for six weeks Practice writing positive life stories in a supportive, fun, relaxed atmosphere. This course is for beginner writers, the curious, those who are looking for a great hobby or those who want to create a collection of stories for family or friends. Just bring a pen and a notebook.

beachmirror.com

a&e Q&A with Emil Sher Blogger interviews Toronto author

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food Cooking with Joanna Sable

w Thursday, Jan. 21

Mental Wellness: Stress and Coping WHEN: 2 to 3 p.m. WHERE: Beaches Library, 2161 Queen St. E. CONTACT: 416-393-7703 COST: Free Join a representative from Toronto Public Health for a presentation on signs and symptoms of stress, the impact of stress on health, coping strategies and relaxation exercises.

Jones Book Club WHEN: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. WHERE: Jones Library, 118 Jones Ave. COST: Free Read ‘The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules’ by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg and join in the discussion.

Blogger cooks up tamales with hot sauce

u

bit.ly/1hhFErf

history The Toronto Time Capsule Discover local history and genealogy online

u

insidetoronto.com/ history

Social Media

www.facebook.com/ TheBeachMirror

@BchRivMirror

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| BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015

community calendar

BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015 |

6

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Complete an application at SOAR.tcdsb.org Available 24 hours

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Const. Barry Small’s generosity lives on following his death >>>from page 1 For nearly 20 years, Small handed out thousands of teddy bears to hospitalized children and seniors during the holiday season. The initiative was known as Barry’s Bears and he was affectionately known as the “Teddy Bear Police Officer.”

Shortly after his death, officers and staff members from 55 Division collected and donated about 150 teddy bears to the Hospital for Sick Children on his behalf.

In early November, Small’s former colleagues and friends at the station launched a second teddy bear drive in his memory.

It’s the least 55 Division could do, said Const. Christian Emond, who helped co-ordinate both teddy bear collections.

“For Barry’s funeral (and visitation), I suggested people bring a teddy bear in his honour. It was just an idea to

take care of one of our own,” Emond said Tuesday morning.

“This helps Danielle and Molly Rae get through a tough time of the year. Just seeing them smile today means we’ve done our job,” said Emond.

Supt. Barbara McLean of 55 Division was also on hand Tuesday morning for the teddy bear packing.

“This is just a small example of the heart and soul of this division. I’m so proud of them,” said McLean.

McLean had known and worked with Small, whom she called a “fixture” at 55 Division, some years ago when she was a detective there.

For the last five or so months, Danielle has been working to raise funds and solicit teddy bear donations from companies.

To support the Barry’s Bears Foundation, email Danielle Small at barrysbears6560@ hotmail.com or search for Barry’s Bears on Facebook.

i

Staff photo/Joanna Lavoie

Danielle, left, and Molly Rae Small, daughter and granddaughter respectively of the late Const. Barry Small, deliver gifts from their toy drive to 55 Division on Tuesday. The toys will be distributed to children at local family shelters and the Hospital for Sick Children.

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Julie

Beer sales launched at Leslieville grocery store

Dabrusin

MeMber of ParliaMent toronto-Danforth

Pair of east-end Loblaws start selling suds Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne visited an east-end Toronto Loblaws Tuesday morning and bought a sixpack of beer.

Wynne stopped by the grocery store at Leslie Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East to launch the sale of beer at 19 Ontario grocery stores.

Five of the locations are in Toronto: w The Loblaws at 50 Musgrave St. in the Danforth Village area w 17 Leslie St. at Lake Shore Boulevard East in Leslieville w The Burnhamthorpe Market at 380 The East Mall in Etobicoke w Real Canadian Superstore locations at 2549 Weston Rd. at Hwy. 401 and 51 Gerry Fitzgerald Dr. near Dufferin and Steeles avenues.

“We have embarked on the

biggest shake-up to alcohol sales in Ontario since the end of Prohibition,” Wynne said to applause from a crowd of Ontario craft beer representatives, store officials and provincial politicians.

“Craft brewers can now grow in a fair and efficient beer market.”

The stores will eventually stock hundreds of beer varieties, including Ontario and local craft beers. As the assortment and display space expands into January, the largest-format beer sections could include more than 200 varieties of import, domestic and Ontario craft beer.

Loblaws intends to allocate 50 per cent of allocated shelf

space to local or craft beer, and will provide additional opportunities for regional favourites on a store-bystore basis.

“Our customers shop with us for all the flavours and ingredients of great meals and today we can better serve that demand with the announcement that beer is here,” said Grant Froese, chief operating officer of Loblaw Companies Limited, in a Tuesday media release.

Beer sales in grocery stores will eventually be rolled out to 450 eligible stores across Ontario.

ToronTo-DanforTh: 416-405-8914 ParliamenT hill: 613-992-9381 email: Julie.Dabrusin@parl.gc.ca

– Joanna Lavoie with files from Hilary Caton

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BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015 |

8

police

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Spirits in the Bluffs

WINEMAKING

Toronto police focus on suspicious behaviour along Broadview Avenue Officers on stepped-up patrols between Eastern and Danforth JOANNA LAVOIE jlavoie@insidetoronto.com Toronto police have launched an initiative aimed at addressing a number of recent suspicious incidents – some of which are potentially sex-crime related – along Broadview Avenue from Eastern to Danforth avenues.

Called Operation Broadlight, police introduced the three-month investigation to the community at a Dec. 10 town hall at Bridgepoint Active Heathcare.

“We want to shine a light on the information we have and bring awareness to the community so people can come forward with more

information,” said Det. Yoshi McCausland of 55 Division’s Criminal Investigation Bureau during a recent interview.

“Since the beginning of the year until now, we’ve seen a cluster (of incidents) we’re a little bit concerned about and we’re still investigating all of these occurrences.” charges laid McCausland said police have had an ongoing investigation since early 2015 and have made several arrests and laid charges.

Teams of officers from 55 Division, Toronto Police Service’s Transit Patrol Unit as well as the Sex Crimes Unit are part

of Operation Broadlight, which also includes stepped-up police patrols of the area.

McCausland said the goals of the investigation are to get people sharing more information with the police and creating more awareness in the community.

Officers from 55 Division are available to speak with concerned residents in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese.

And while local police don’t want to alarm the community, McCausland said investigators believe there may be more incidents that have not been reported.

For more information or to directly report an incidence of suspicious behavior, such as someone peering into a window or a suspicious person on your property, call the hotline at 416808-5516.

i

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Give the Gift of Wine Gift Certificates Accessories Available 416-264-2837 2364 Kingston Road 2 Blocks West of Midland Ave. www.spiritsinthebluffs.com

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BEACH in brief

skate day for Beaches-East-York wFree Beaches-East York Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon will host her annual skate day Saturday.

The free event will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Ted Reeve Community Arena, 175 Main St. at Gerrard Street East.

All are welcome. Bring an unwrapped adult or child gift for Community Centre 55’s Share-A-Christmas program.

Call 416-392-1376 for details.

Teen traveler hosts photo exhibition Travels Into The Heart, a photography exhibition by 17-yearold Upper Beach resident Kasha Sequoia Slavner, will have its Toronto debut this evening in Leslieville.

The all-ages event, which will include the launch of Kasha’s travel photography book, Reflections of the Sunrise Storyteller – A Journey Into The Heart As A Global Citizen, will run from 7 to 11 p.m. at HangLoose Media, 28 Logan Ave., north of Lake Shore Boulevard.

Travels Into The Heart is a compilation of 32 photographs from her six-month adventure

w

in East Africa and Southeast Asia. The show had its inaugural exhibition in New York and Portland, Oregon earlier his year.

Those interested in attending are asked to register at www. theglobalsunriseproject.eventbrite.ca for tickets. Unregistered guests will be charged a $5 admission.

Fifty per cent of the evening’s fundraising activities will be directed to Kasha’s Cards of Kindness, which raises funds for The Canadian Voice of Women for Peace – Youth Leadership Camp in Ontario, and K-Robs Social Enterprise, which provides educational resources and scholarships for children and youth in Tanzania.

Email theglobalsunriseproject@gmail.com or visit http:// theglobalsunriseproject.com Integrative Health holds book drive wRestore

Leslieville’s Restore Integrative Health is holding a book drive for The Children’s Book Bank.

Drop off gently used children’s books at Restore, 989 Queen St. E., west of Pape Avenue, during office hours until Saturday.

The registered charity collects

new and gently used children’s books from families who have finished with them and from publishers and retailers who cannot use them, and distributes them through a storefront book bank in Regent Park.

The books should be suitable for children up to Grade 6 and be printed within the last 10 years. Teen or adult books are not needed.

Visit www.childrenbookbank. com for more information. bank collection taking place in Riverside wBook A number of businesses in Riverside are taking part in the GOLDIBOX program, a book drive spearheaded by a group of George Brown students known as Super Six for Kids.

The students have placed gold-coloured boxes in locations around Toronto for people to donate new and gently used children’s books.

Super Six for Kids is aiming to collect 500 books for The Children’s Book Bank Canada.

Participating Riverside businesses : Pulp Kitchen, 717 Queen St. E.; Common Sort, 804 Queen St. E.; Appetite, 722 Queen St. E.; Dark Horse Espresso Bar, 630 Queen St. E.;

and Dimension Framing, 732 Queen St. E. Visit www.facebook.com/ SuperSixForKids for details.

Safety 1st Group seeks donations wRivertowne

The Rivertowne Safety 1st Group, a resident collective that runs breakfast and after-school programs, an annual community barbecue, community clean ups and black heritage celebration events, needs support and donations for its sixth annual holiday appreciation event.

Organizers are looking for gift certificates for prizes, gift baskets, party and food supplies, holiday decorations, and financial donations. The celebration is set tfor Saturday from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen St. E., east of Broadview Avenue.

To make a donation, contact Javan Courtney at javan.courtney@torontohousing.ca or 416797-2869.

Christmas Market wraps up wToronto

The 28 days of Christmas magic at the Distillery Historic District will be coming to an end Sunday.

The sixth annualmarket, which this year featured a lineup of more than 320 performances, is set to conclude for the season with a World Caroling Challenge at 5 p.m.

Organizers are hoping to break the world record for the most carolers singing in one place.

The Toronto Christmas Market, which like those that originated in Germany in the 1400s, celebrates the traditional sights, sounds, and scents of the holiday season.

The Distillery Historic District is at 55 Mill St., which is south of Eastern Avenue and east of Parliament Street.

Visit www.torontochristmasmarket.com closes Leslie Barns community office wTTC

The community office for the TTC’s Leslie Barns project has closed.

The storefront space at 1258 Queen St. E., east of Leslie Street, closed its doors Wednesday.

Toronto Transit Commission representatives will be available to answer questions about the Leslie via email at lesliebarns@ ttc.ca or by phone at 416-8942823.

Santa is coming to the Danforth Friday December 18th, 5:00 to 8:00 Saturday December 19th, 12:00 to 3:00 Sunday December 20th, 12:00 to 3:00 • bring your camera & take a picture ....receive a candy cane & enter our colouring contest

Christmas

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| BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015

community

BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015 |

10

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Current as of December 1, 2015. Offer ends December 31, 2015. Available to new residential customers in select areas of Ontario where access and technology permit. The Bundle Program may be changed/terminated at any time. Bell is not obligated to provide the Bundle Discount for the duration of term; see bell.ca/bundledetails.

Subject to change without notice; not combinable with other offers. Taxes extra and restrictions apply. For certain offers, customer must select e-bill and create MyBell profile. Early termination charges may apply. Internet Modem rental required; one-time modem rental fee waived for new customers. Actual speeds will vary depending on the distance between the customer’s modem and switching equipment from Bell. Speeds on the Internet may vary with your configuration, Internet traffic, server or other factors; see bell.ca/internet. Home phone available where not CRTC-regulated. Service area charge ($4/mo.) may apply; see bell.ca/ serviceareacharge. (1) Available with select channels/content, excluding US networks and non-local content, and subject to viewing limitations. (2) $10/mo. based on $30 monthly fee, less a $20 monthly credit (included in advertised price, see note 5 for details). Available to Internet customers with continued subscription to an eligible Internet and TV bundle; see bell.ca/bundledetails. Subject to your compliance with the Bell Terms of Service; bell.ca/agreements. (3) Applies to traditional copper-based (excluding fibre-based) wireline telephony; compared to cable telephony and based on continued service during extended power outages at customer’s home. (4) Available to customers who continuously subscribe to three select services. Applies to direct-dialed outbound calls to Canada and the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii, but excluding other U.S. territories), excluding toll-free calls. Calls to certain conference or adult services or to high-cost areas may be restricted, and subject to other use restrictions in Terms of Service; see bell.ca/legal. (5) Available to new customers who continuously subscribe to Bell TV, Internet and Home Phone and to current Home Phone customers who add Fibe TV and Internet. $99.85 promotional monthly price is based on a promotional credit applied to regular price as follows: Bell TV Good package: $45.95/mo. ($47.95/mo. as of Feb 1), plus $3 Digital Service Fee, less $22/mo. ($26 as of Feb 1) credit for 12 full billing periods, less $7/mo. bundle discount; and Fibe 25: $65.95/mo. ($69.95/mo. as of Feb 1), plus $10/mo. for unlimited Internet usage, less $39/mo.($43 as of Feb 1) credit for 12 full billing periods; and Home phone Choice with unlimited Long distance calling to Canada and US: $51.95/mo. ($53.95/mo. as of Feb 1), less $9/mo. ongoing discount. All prices are subject to change. Promotional price will apply to your first full 30-day billing period and for each full billing period after that, for the duration of your promotion. Your billing period may not start on the day you subscribe to our services. Regular price will apply for services delivered prior to your first full 30-day billing period or if Bell terminates your services during a 30-day billing period. (6) $0 rental based on $15 monthly rental fee, less a $15 monthly credit. Available to new Bell TV subscribers with continued subscription to three eligible Bell services; see bell.ca/bundle. The receiver remains Bell’s property. You may terminate your rental at any time provided you return the receiver (early termination fees on programming may apply). Receivers may be new or refurbished at Bell’s choice. (7) Fibe TV installation charges are $199.95 with no contract term. Includes installation of modem, Whole Home PVR and up to 2 additional HD receivers; see bell.ca/fibetvinstall for details. $50 installation fee for each additional receiver. Internet: Conditions apply; see bell.ca/fullinstall. Home phone installation includes one jack at the service entry point where none present; installation fee is $75 for the 1st additional jack, $50 for every subsequent jack. Fibe is a trademark of Bell Canada.

Monday - Friday 10AM - 9PM Saturday 9AM - 9PM Sunday 11AM - 6PM

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CHRISTMAS EVE Thursday, December 24 9AM - 6PM

BOXING DAY Saturday, December 26 9AM - 9PM

REGULAR MALL HOURS December 27-30 NEW YEAR’S EVE Thursday, December 31 9AM - 6PM NEW YEAR’S DAY 2016 Friday, January 1 CLOSED

BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015 |

12

transit

All aboard the streetcar from all doors Transit riders now have the option to board a TTC streetcar from any door.

The practice has been in place during peak hours on the busy 501 Queen, 504 King and 510 Spadina lines.

Now all streetcars will allow riders to board from any door at any time or day provided they have a valid proof of payment, such as a transfer or a Metropass.

Anyone who needs to purchase a fare will still have to enter at the front of the vehicle, with the exception of the new streetcars that have vending machines on board.

LAUNCHES FIXEDFARE COMMUTER OPTION wUBER

The announcement Uber is planning to launch a fixed-fare commuter option for Liberty Village may have reminded some of an ill-fated enterprise that promised the same type of service just last year.

UberHop will allow groups of five to use the service for morning and afternoon trips from Liberty Village and other downtown neighbourhoods

rahul gupta TO in TRANSIT into the Financial District for $5. That’s reminiscent of Line 6, which had planned to run a chartered bus service serving Liberty Village.

TAXI APP BILLS ITSELF AS ALL-IN-ONE SERVICE A new mobile app promises to make it easy to order a cab right from your smartphone.

Developed by Cellwand, The Ride bills itself as an all-in-one service for hailing taxis as well as locating carshares and planning transit trips.

According to a press release announcing its launch, the app is directly linked to 6,000 taxis across the country, with plans to add 3,000 more.

The Ride also promises to allow access to a cab dispatcher should an e-hailing option be unavailable.

Currently there’s no way to arrange payment directly through the app a la Uber, and a “convenience fee” of around

w

$2 is assessed for ordering cabs through the service. You can download the app for either Android or iOS (sorry Blackberry users).

For more information, visit www.gettherideapp.com CLOSURES OF YONGE LINE to end wNIGHTLY

For some weeks, this column has breathlessly counted down the impending end of the early Yonge line subway closure for service north of Eglinton Station.

For well over seven years, anyone who needed to travel in between Eglinton and Finch Station six days a week after 12:30 a.m. was forced to board a bus so TTC work crews could have enough time each night to carry out essential tunnel repairs.

Now it can be announced: the practice will officially end as of 2 a.m. Friday. Good times are (almost) here again.

Rahul Gupta is Metroland Media Toronto’s transit reporter. His column appears every Thursday. Reach him on Twitter: @TOinTRANSIT

i

GO fares going up for long trips RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com Metrolinx is going ahead with a 2016 fare increase for GO Transit.

The provincial transit planning agency’s board of directors voted unanimously to raise GO fares by five per cent, starting in February.

The price increase won’t affect trips made on GO costing less than $6; however, the 90 per cent of GO riders who start or end their trips at Union Station will likely see a hike of 40 to 60 cents depending on how far they travel.

Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig said the decision to raise fares for longer trips – GO uses a hybrid pricing model that calculates fares by distance on top of a base or flat fee – and leave the lowest priced rides alone makes up for a historic overcharging of customers who travel the shortest distances.

“What we’ve done this

year is not to assess a fare increase on our lowest fares, and that’s to address the fact proportionally they’ve been paying a little higher than our longer distance fares,” said McCuaig following the meeting earlier this month.

In an effort to keep GO competitive, McCuaig said fare policy is made with the objective of keeping fares within 63 per cent of the cost for commuting the same distance by automobile.

GO president Greg Percy said the increase, which is projected to boost the regional transit provider’s coffers by just over $24 million next year, would fund not only new infrastructure and service, but the costs for operating the improvements.

“No o n e l i k e s a f a re increase,” Percy told the Metrolinx board during its quarterly meeting. “It’s no surprise once you finish an immense infrastructure project there’s an operating

cost burden you have to deal with.”

With the fare rise also comes a corresponding increase to the amount of ride discounts available through the Presto fare card, which is used by more than 80 per cent of GO riders.

Tapping on with Presto for between one and 35 trips per month will result in a fare discount of more than 11 per cent for the initial ride taken, up from 10 per cent in 2015. Students would receive more than 18 per cent, about a per cent more than this year, off their first trip taken of the month, while seniors are now up to more than 52 per cent in total discount.

M e t r o l i n x ’s p r i c i n g s c h e m e f o r t h e Un i o n Pearson Express service will see an adjustment in fares, although standard prices will remain at $53 for a round-trip between Union Station and Terminal One of Toronto Pearson Airport, and just over half that for the same ride using Presto.

Consumer Feature

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Sale ends December 24th.

New Year’s Eve at

Melanie’s Bistro at 1870 Danforth Ave. is celebrating New Year’s Eve with a bang!

Melanie and her staff at the neighbourhood bistro will be celebrating the best way they know how - with delicious food and champagne to toast!

Guests will receive a three-course meal and a glass of bubbly each for just $49. Reservations can be made now for 5 or 7 p.m. and those interested in the menu selection are encouraged to call for details. The bistro holds the New Year’s Eve event annually and has always sold out.

Melanie is also inviting you to take a break from cooking for a special brunch on Dec. 24

and 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brunch is normally reserved for the weekends, but has been extended for the holidays.

The popular neighbourhood bistro is a family business, run by a husband and wife team. It’s been serving an eclectic menu to Torontonians for almost eight years. Diners return for the good food, wide selection of wines and spirits, and friendly service. The bistro also features BYOW (bring your own wine) everyday with the corkage fee waived on Wednesdays.

For more information on Melanie’s Bistro, visit www.melaniesbistro.ca or call 416-422-1870.

Locally Owned and operated Bistro

1870 Danforth Ave., 416-422-1870 www.melaniesbistro.ca Toronto (West Of Woodbine)

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• aluminum trays, pie plates,

roasting pans, cookie tins • soft & stretchy plastics

(bags, overwrap) • plastic disposable cups, plates • foam food containers &

protective packaging

• meat, including bones

• black coloured plastics

• breads

• bubble wrap

• cakes, cookies

• foil gift wrap

• fruits, vegetables

• ribbons, bows

• paper napkins

• aluminum foil

• paper plates

• dishes, glasses • wooden fruit crates

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Curbside collection changes this Holiday Season There is no curbside recycling/organics/garbage collection on Christmas Day, December 25 and New Year’s Day, January 1. Check your calendar for Friday collection schedule changes.

toronto.ca/recycle

BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015 |

14

community

Former athletes’ village being transformed into housing Canary District to welcome residents into affordable housing in 2016 JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com With the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games well in the rear view mirror, the neighbourhood that served as the Athletes’ Village is getting set to take on its permanent role as Toronto’s newest neighbourhood.

Known as the Canary District, the area just east of Cherry Street and south of Front will start welcoming new residents to its first 1,000-plus residents in early 2016, with work crews out in full force to get the units ready.

The district will also be home to the brand new Cooper Koo Family Cherry Street YMCA Centre, student

Staff photo/Justin Skinner

Work continues Monday on Cooperage Street in the new Canary District as the commercial/residential development project nears completion.

housing for George Brown College students and a variety of high-end retail outlets.

“We’ve got a few hundred people working on the site every day to do all the conversion work (turning athletes’ rooms into proper permanent homes), taking down the temporary partitions (which

slimmed down the rooms to allow more athletes to stay in the village) and adding final touches like the flooring,” said Jason Lester of DundeeKilmer, the company responsible for the work.

Unlike most highly-developed areas in Toronto, which see new buildings added

piecemeal to existing stock, the Canary District was built from scratch. That allowed for a master plan, which will see 810 condo units, plus 60 units of affordable ownership housing and 253 units of affordable rental housing.

Lester said some facets of the new district will be

up and running as early as March 15.

“That’s when we’ll start welcoming people in to the affordable units, which is when we hand over the keys to the Y and to the George Brown College residences,” he said. “The idea is that we’ll open up the roads by then.

Front Street (east of Cherry) will be open to the public for the first time in five years, and Mill Street too. And then there are all the cross-streets that will be brand new.”

Situated on long-derelict former industrial land, the Canary District offers nods to the area’s past in the form of heritage buildings, some street art and street names such as Cooperage Street and Tannery Road, which point to the old businesses that were once common there.

Retail in the area will feature a day spa, café, gym, bike shop, and a couple of restaurants, along with smaller tenancies such as a butcher and baker.

Lester said the choice of

tenants will give the Canary District a health-conscious focus, fitting given its proximity not only to the relatively new Corktown Common park, but also to the city’s trail system.

“There are connections from here to the Brick Works and to the Martin Goodman Trail, with Corktown Common kind of symbolizing the trailhead for downtown Toronto,” Lester said.

Once open, the Canary District will bring new life to a long-abandoned portion of the downtown east and will put an end to decades of dithering over what should be done with the industrial area.

“This whole district’s been in the planning stages since the 1980s,” Lester said.

The Pan Am Games finally served as a catalyst to get things done and allowed the lion’s share of the work to be completed, with only the finishing touches left.

“Come the spring of 2016 – instant city,” Lester said.

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in pictures

tannenbaum runner

sleep out for Syrians At left, Tami Genge, left, and Glynn Robinson set up tents for the Sleep Out for Syrians event earlier this month at the Church of the Resurrection. Members of the Neighbourhood Group and the Danforth East Community Association aimed to raise money to sponsor a Syrian refugee family through pledges for those sleeping out for the night. At right, Zoe Elumir, 11, lights a candle of hope during the event.

Photos/ALESSANDRO SHINODA

farm fun At left, Eliana Longman, 2, feeds a sheep during the Country Winterland event held recently at Beech Nursery. At right, Out of Control Farms’ Lisa Cliche takes miniature pony Buttercup for a walk during the family event.

Staff photo/BENJAMIN PRIEBE

Cheru Mechessa is the first male runner to cross the finish line, with a time of 32 minutes and 12 seconds, during the 10th annual Tannenbaum 10k charity run, benefiting Community Centre 55’s Share-A-Christmas program, on Sunday, Dec. 6. The race is Learn more about the Sharepresented by the Toronto A-Christmas program, visit Beaches Runners Club. www.centre55.com/pro-

i

grams_sac.htm

Staff photos/Irvin Mintz

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19 | BEACH MIRROR | Thursday, December 17, 2015

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