The City Centre Mirror North, December 10 2015 by The City Centre Mirror

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Creating prosthetic hands for children in war-torn countries

cookies for a cause

Enabling the Future organization helped students use 3D printers to create pieces JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com After a special workshop at the Toronto Reference Library, students from Jarvis Collegiate Institute and Jackman Avenue Junior Public School were able to give a hand – literally – to children in need. The group of more than 40 students used the library’s 3D printer to create parts for prosthetic hands as part of Enabling the Future’s first Hand-a-Thon. The students then assembled the hands, which were to be sent to children in conflictravaged countries overseas. Enabling the Future taught

the youngsters the basics of creating the hands, which touched on a number of other educational subjects. “They don’t just learn how 3D printing works and the assembly process,” said Kolden Simmonds of e-NABLE Canada, a branch of Enabling the Future. “They’ve learned the mechanics of anatomy, how to work in a collaborative teamwork environment and STEM-related (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.” With the relatively new addition of 3D printers in its Digital Innovation Hub, the Reference Library made for an >>>JARVIS, page 2

Staff photo/BENJAMIN PRIEBE

helping refugees: Sue Goodwin, left, Shauna Brown, Lois Hird and Em Goncalves work to bake and package cookies for the Cookies for a Cause fundraiser at St. Andrew's Church, 73 Simcoe St., last Friday. The event raised $3,000 to bring a Syrian refugee family to Toronto. A second fundraiser is planned for Friday, Dec. 11 from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. at St. Andrew’s.

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Metrolinx board rejects Eglinton Crosstown LRT station names list RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com It wasn’t rising GO fares, flatlined Union Pearson (UP) Express ridership or any other pertinent transit item on the agenda which rankled Metrolinx’s board of directors, but station names.

When it came to the matter of approving the names of the 25 stations planned for the under-construction Eglinton Crosstown LRT line, the board blanched at endorsing the list presented, and ordered staff for the provincial transit planning agency to come up with something else.

“Obviously some of the names we put forward don’t resonate with the board, and we need to go back and re-evaluate, talk to some of our partners again about some of those locations and report back,” said Metrolinx’s CEO Bruce McCuaig on the displeasure shown by the 13-person board

during Thursday’s meeting. The chief source of discontent among the board – which invariably rubber stamps nearly all of the agency’s recommendations with little public debate – was naming some stations on the Eglinton Avenue light rail line, such as Forest Hill, after neighbourhoods or distinctive

landmarks as opposed to street names. “If I hear Bathurst and I’ve never been there, if I hear it being announced I know where to get off,” said board member Bill Fisch during the meeting. “If I hear Forest Hill, I have no idea what that means.” >>>SOME, page 13

2 CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015 |

community

Staff photo/JUSTIN SKINNER

Jarvis Collegiate Grade 10 students Tajmina Tafader, left, and Nedaa Alshimmary take part in the Hand-a-Thon held Saturday at the Toronto Reference Library. Participants in the workshop created working prosthetic hands.

Jarvis Collegiate’s innovation club learned to design prosthetic hands

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>>>from page 1 ideal partner for the Handa-Thon. “They’re (library) great for events and great at engaging the community,” Simmonds said. For the workshop, the students paired off, usually with one high school student from Jarvis’ innovation club with an elementary school student from Jackman’s prosthetics club. In addition to printing the parts for the intricate prosthetic devices, the students used string to make them function as prosthetics. Jarvis Collegiate Grade 10 student Tajmina Tafader noted the innovation club had done some work in designing pros-

thetic hands before, but the Hand-a-Thon marked the first time they were actually able to assemble the devices. “We try to do things to help the community and the school, and last year we designed prosthetics, but we didn’t actually get to make any,” she said. “It’s really cool to be able to put them together.” Jackman Avenue Grade 6 student Charlotte Marron said the workshop, which included a video that showcased the need for prosthetic hands in developing nations, was both exciting and rewarding. “It’s important to be able to use your hands, so it feels really good to help someone be able to use their hands for

the first time in years using something you made for them,” she said. The day-long session was the first in what Simmonds said he hopes will be an ongoing series of Hand-aThons facilitated by Enabling the Future and e-NABLE Canada. “We’re hoping to be able to work with the library more to get more students and members of the public involved,” he said. For more information on the program, visit www.enablingthefuture.org. To contact Simmonds about holding or attending a workshop in Toronto, email phoenixbluemobility@gmail.com

Enter for your chance to win a $250 gift card It’s a win-win just in time for Christmas. Enter for your chance to win a $250 gift card from President’s Choice and Metroland Media Toronto will also donate a $250 gift card from President’s Choice to the Daily Bread Foodbank on your behalf as part of the Give Back Contest. Gift cards are donated by Joe’s No Frills at 900

Dufferin St. and Nicholson’s No Frills at 2187 Bloor St. W. No purchase is necessary. The contest is open to Toronto residents 18 years of age or older. The odds of winning depend on number of eligi-

ble entries received. One (1) prize will be awarded. The contest closes Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. To enter and for complete contest rules, visit insidetoronto.com/contests

‘Y’ Peace Medallion awarded to midtown activist JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Having seen the injustices faced by countless women around the world, midtown Toronto resident Kavita Dogra has made it her life’s goal to create change. Dogra was born in New Brunswick but moved as a young girl to India, where she witnessed the effects of poverty first-hand, though she did not fully process them at the time. She recalled her family’s maid, whose daughter was to be married off after she finished elementary school. “For me as a kid, I just thought ‘I’m teaching her kids English from my school books, but looking back on it, I can really see the way gender roles were really defined and poverty was everywhere,” she said. While Dogra always wanted to work to improve the lives of others, she truly found her calling after watching the film The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo several years back.

“I was really stunned by the extent of the violence experienced by women in the Congo and I wasn’t able to shake it off,” she said. “That led me to join Women for Women International and then on International Women’s Day, I put out a call to a Join Me on the Bridge event (in which people gather to show solidarity and support from women from war-torn countries.)”

“

There’s a delusion in Canada that everything’s good here... – Kavita Dogra

While that event was successful, Dogra knew that holding an event once a year wouldn’t bring about the change she hoped to see. Along with fellow activist Leigh Bowen, she started up a website (www.wetalkwomen. org) that highlights the horrors facing women not just abroad but in Canada as well.

“There’s a delusion in Canada that everything’s good here and that if there are problems (with women’s rights) they’re probably somewhere over there in other countries,” she said. “The injustices here are a lot easier to ignore because so much of what happens in Canada is covert.” “My goal was to engage people in conversations about what’s happening not just around the world but in our own backyard as well.” We Talk Women looks at a range of issues, from the estimated 1,200-plus missing aboriginal women in Canada to female genital mutilation to child marriage, domestic violence and human trafficking. In addition to providing overviews of these subjects, the website offers links to information sources and organizations that are trying to tackle the issues. “Some of these topics are very intense and people don’t know how to help or how to make a difference,” Dogra

Photo/COURTESY

YMCA Peace Medallion recipient Kavita Dogra, left, was nominated for the award by Laura Dantsis, YMCA of Greater Toronto’s administrative liaison - client support services.

said. “For me, it’s important to teach people simple ways they can help. I consider myself a link that others can use.” While the statistics surrounding issues such as domestic violence are sober-

ing, Dogra said the key to understanding and pushing for change is to show the human side of things. “A lot of people hear about domestic violence and think ‘Why doesn’t she just leave’

but it’s not that easy – women often plan for a year before they actually leave,” she said. “It’s all in the way you approach the subject – here’s some awful news, but here’s a personal story, here’s a survivor, here’s some hope.” In addition to running her website and using social media to advocate actively, Dogra has started leading community walks with women in local shelters and has volunteered with several non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Most of all, Dogra wants to impart the lesson that it doesn’t take a full-time commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. For her work in engaging both men and women to improve the lives of women and girls, Dogra was recently awarded a YMCA Peace Medallion. The Peace Medallions were handed out during the organization’s Peace Week in November.

Scott Mission aims to offer holiday help to 1,000 families Annual toy store opened this month with wide array of games, books, mitts, and more JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com For thousands of families, the holidays bring more stress than cheer as already-tight budgets get stretched to the limits. The Scott Mission is aiming to ease the burden on roughly 1,000 of those families, helping to ensure they have a Merry Christmas with toys and gifts for kids and a hearty meal for the table. The mission opened its annual toy store on Tuesday,

Dec. 1, with a wide array of games, books, sports equipment, hats and mitts, and various toys for children of all ages. Operating in the basement of the mission at College Street and Spadina Avenue, the goodies are decked out along shelves, making the room resemble a toy store in which participating families can browse and pick out the perfect gifts for their young ones. “We start signing people up for it in the fall and (the

list of families) always fills up pretty quickly,” said Alex Ng of the Scott Mission. “We have about 1,000 families that sign up to get toys and they can come by in the morning to pick out what they want. “We’re happy at this time of year to do what we can to give out toys to families who need a little help.” For mother Sofia Agbontean, who shopped for her four children at the toy store, the initiative helps bring some cheer around the holidays. “It makes it so much easier to make sure the kids have presents,” she said. In addition to the Scott

Mission Toy Store, the organization also hands out Christmas hampers with fresh fruits and vegetables, a turkey or chicken, pasta and other food items. “This is our busiest time of the year, and we’re often at full capacity,” Ng said. “There’s a lot of need in the city, so donations are always welcome.” While the toy store will only remain open until Dec. 11, the Scott Mission will continue to serve meals and hand out clothing to some of Toronto’s most vulnerable residents.

For more information or to donate, visit www.scottmission.com

Photo/JUSTIN SKINNER

Sofia Agbontean shops for her kids at the Scott Mission Toy Store on Thursday, Dec. 3. The toy store offers a wide selection of toys for some of Toronto’s most vulnerable families.

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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015 |

opinion

The City Centre 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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Mayor John Tory’s property levy tax shows good financial planning

Write us The City Centre 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 City Centre Mirror, 175 Gordon Baker Rd. Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2.

oronto has been in fiscal denial, off and on, since it was amalgamated in 1998. That was when Mel Lastman was elected mayor, promising to freeze property taxes for the first three years of the new mega-city. He pulled it off, but not in a fiscally responsible way. Rather than finding internal efficiencies and cutting services, most of the city’s financial problems were deferred down the line in the service of a tax freeze. When David Miller took over two terms later, the city and council did better, but it was a tooth-andnail fight to implement the land transfer tax and vehicle registration tax, which let council get away with more minor efficiencies and modest property tax increases thanks to a booming real estate market. Those taxes and a municipal workers strike sent Rob Ford our view into the mayor’s office and while that regime made some Proposal is mostly unpalatable cuts, once ambitious spending and good first step again timid revenue-seeking put in responsiblity Toronto back in the hole. The early months of John Tory’s time in the mayor’s office seemed to continue this unrealistic mash-up of promises of frugality with big-ticket commitments. For a time, it looked as though the reconstruction of the Gardiner Expressway, SmartTrack, the Scarborough subway and countless other enhancements were going to bankrupt us all. That’s why we’re happy to see that Tory has effectively abandoned his promise to keep property tax increases at or below the rate of inflation. It’s not that we think higher taxes are a good idea. But the alternative – planning to build a city the size of Toronto on an unsustainable fiscal plan – is folly. Tory’s plan to charge a 0.5 per cent a year levy to build transit and housing is at least a step toward erasing that folly. The tax increase is relatively small: $13 a year for the average homeowner, for five years, on top of whatever inflationary increase they see on their tax bill. By itself, it is neither a great burden, nor the complete solution to Toronto’s needs. There will have to be more revenue grabs. But that’s for another day. For now, we can at least applaud that the days of denial seem to be done.

column

Mayor John Tory has defied early expectations when it comes to governing a complex Toronto John Tory can be a tough mayor to interview. That’s not to say that our mayor is evasive, or dishonest, or, like the last one to hold the job, openly hostile to journalistic prying. Tory is none of those things. The problem, rather, is the opposite: Tory thinks aloud, considering all points of view and in the end, states nearly all of them – in addition to agreeing with the premise of the question in case that hadn’t come up in one of the other answers. It can be frustrating work, trying to parse the mayor’s views from all that. A lead becomes a multiple choice question. From that, one might conclude that the mayor is simply unprincipled – and by a narrowly political definition of the word, that might be so. Tory does not hold fast with the principles of one

david nickle the city faction or another of our political spectrum. He might have done so in the past. But now, Tory seems content to take his pick. This he has demonstrated ably over his first year in office. For a time, it seemed as though Tory might be of a piece with council’s right-wing intelligentsia: he championed a costly rebuild of the Gardiner Expressway favoured by Conservative members of council, and held fast on the costly Scarborough subway for which former mayor Rob Ford took credit. He has sung the praises of the private sector and made jokes about the folly of big government as well as any right-wing pol might be expected to.

But as the year has gone on, he’s defied those expectations. After talking with business leaders and sport boosters, he backed the city away from another Olympic bid. He used another meeting with the blue-blooded business crowd at the Economic Club of Canada to unveil plans for an annual tax hike to pay for a major round of construction and repair of public affordable housing and transit infrastructure. He flew to Paris right after that, to huddle with world leaders trying to find ways to battle, halt and possibly reverse climate change and when he came back, he announced plans to help Toronto recycle more garbage, consume less energy and get around on foot and on bicycles. This is not the sort of thing you’d have expected

from a guy named Tory. Now some of this might be written off as evidence of a shifting of the political winds. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals came to power on a wave of progressive policies and right-wing repudiation. I would buy that more easily if I hadn’t been exposed so early and often to the push-me-pull-you dynamic of Tory’s psyche. And while it’s a frustrating psyche to try and codify, it might actually turn out to be a healthy one when it comes to governing a big, complex place like Toronto, where public mood and social reality can shift in a heartbeat. Vision, clear and consistent and predictable, might well have had its day.

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

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city centre happening in

it's happening w Friday, Dec. 11

Manage your Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis Pain WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: The Arthritis Society, 393 University Ave. Suite 1700 CONTACT: Call 1-800-321-1433, ext. 3381 COST: Free Learn about osteoarthritis of the hip and knee; relieving pain and stiffness; activity and weight management; and community resources. The Scadding Court Holiday Market WHEN: 3 to 9 p.m. WHERE: Scadding Court Community Centre, 707 Dundas St. W. CONTACT: amanda@ scaddingcourt.org COST: Free Join Scadding Court and Market 707 at its three-day holiday market. The market will also be accepting non-perishable food items as well as un-wrapped toys.

w Saturday, Dec. 12

HoHoHo DIY Bio Toronto’s Large Holiday Collider WHEN: 2 to 8 p.m. WHERE: HackLab.to, 1266 Queen St. W. Unit 6 CONTACT: Jasmine Alkin, 647-2413672 COST: Free The event will be full of interactive learning stations featuring: edible molecular gastronomy, brain wave

looking ahead w Sunday, Dec. 13

A Victorian Christmas WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. WHERE: Toronto First Post Office Museum, 260 Adelaide St. E. CONTACT: Karen Millyard, 416-578-1031, www.JaneAustenDancing.ca COST: $20 adults, $15 students, youth and seniors. Renowned historian Carolyn Harris on Victorian Christmas customs at Toronto’s First Post Office Museum. Illustrated talk, fireside tea and carolling and letter-writing using quill pens and sealing wax. war, new sequencing tech. Admission is free of charge but plenty of goodies may be won through the DIY Bio raffle. Don We Now Our Gay Apparel: A Counterpoint Christmas Festival WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Saint Luke’s United Church, 353 Sherbourne St. CONTACT: Lana Chou Hoyt, 647-977-6058, http://www. ccorchestra.org COST: $20 door Concert. Concert for SickKids’ Music Therapy Programs WHEN: 8 to 11 p.m. WHERE: Scallywags, 11 St. Clair Ave. W. CONTACT: Chip Thomas, 416-768-7756 COST: $10 Join us at a benefit concert to support SickKids’ Music Therapy Programs.

w Sunday, Dec. 13

Music & Truffles WHEN: 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. WHERE: Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building - University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park CONTACT: www. mooredaleconcerts.com COST: $13 per ticket Designed for people six to 11 as well as adults.

w Wednesday, Dec. 16

50+ Lifestyle Workshop WHEN: 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. WHERE: Central Eglinton Community Centre, 160 Eglinton Ave. E. CONTACT: Sherri Bulmer, 416-392-0511, ext. 228 COST: Free Topics include happiness, stress management and more. LEGO/K’Nex - Build & Play WHEN: 4 to 5 p.m. WHERE: Lillian H. Smith Library, 239 College St.

CONTACT: 416-393-7746 COST: Free for kids six to 12 Build & Play with LEGO or K’Nex at the After School Club.

citycentremirror.com

pets

Toronto Sacred Harp Singing WHEN: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. WHERE: Music Room at Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor St. W. CONTACT: Frank Griggs, frank@vocis.com COST: pay what you can The singing is participatory, not a performance or rehearsal. There are songbooks to borrow.

Reducing anxiety

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food

w Thursday, Dec. 17

Christmas decorating

The Mummers’ Masque WHEN: 8 to 10 p.m. WHERE: Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, 106 Trinity St. CONTACT: Vivian Moens, 416-4104561, http://torontomasquetheatre. com/node/40 COST: $20 to $50 Get ready for a celebration of the 400-year-old Newfoundland holiday tradition of mummering when people in disguise, roam door-todoor offering entertainment in the form of music, dance and a play.

Blogger offers easy tips found in your cupboard

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contest Enter for your chance to win:

A $25o President’s Choice gift card for you and the food bank

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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015 |

13th Annual

Beary Merry Christmas Metroland Media Toronto is very proud to be the founder of the Beary Merry Christmas Campaign. For the 13th consecutive year, City Centre employees will deliver teddy bears to children spending the holidays in our local hospitals. We are so proud to have Samko & Miko as the oﬃcial sponsor of this year’s teddy bears. As you can see, there are many other community minded businesses in the area that have generously purchased a bear for a needy child this season. We thank all of our partners for helping us put smiles on the faces of so many children this Holiday Season.

TOYOTA ON FRONT 524 Front St. W. Between Bathurst and Spadina

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Season’s Greetings from Centennial College 12 locations and counting. Find one near you!

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Toronto’s award-winning flower shop 549 King St. E. at Sumach SaleS 416-975-2623 Service 416-964-2582

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presents

Toronto police looking for woman after Christmas wreaths stolen Police are investigating a pair of wreath thefts from residential property in the Yonge Street and Macpherson Avenue area. Security camera images shows what appears to be a woman removing a Christmas wreath from the door of a home in the early morning

hours of Saturday, Dec. 5. The suspect is described as white, 25 to 35 years old, with a thin build. She was wearing a tight-fitting toque, a black puffy jacket, blue jeans and black leather messenger bag. Police said there was a similar theft in the area in the early

Give Your Old Christmas Stocking the Boot…

hours of Monday, Dec. 7. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-8085300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477. To view a YouTube video of one of the incidents, go to www.youtube.com/ watch?v=cS6J58xeRRY

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When Andrew was diagnosed with bone cancer, his entire life was put on pause. Trying out for the provincial soccer team. Paused. Spending time with his sister, Savannah. Paused. Hanging out with his friends at school. Paused. Learning about photography. Paused. Training at the gym. Paused. Donate at sickkidsfoundation.com to help unpause a child’s story.

7 | CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015

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All animals deserve a second chancee.e. Donate online to help make a difference in the lives of animals who are in the shelters. Go to toronto.ca/helptheanimals

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Waterfront Location, Totally Redesigned & Professionally Renovated 3 Bedroom, 3,200 Sq. Ft. Suite with Lavish Finishes, Over 350K Spent, No Expense Spared, Top of the Line Appliances, Crown Mouldings, Custom Cabinetry, Gourmet Kitchen, Divine Bathrooms... the list goes on. A Spectacular Lifestyle awaits you. Call for a Confidential Viewing Today! SOLD FOR TOP DOLLAR!

STONE & BRICK EXECUTIvE 2 STOREY!!

Absolutely Gorgeous Totally Renovated 4+1 Bedroom. Fabulous Open Concept Layout, Gleaming Hardwood Floors, Huge Custom Kitchen With Quartz Counter, Centre Island, Stainless Steel Appliances, and Walkout To Deck. Master Bdrm With Full Ensuite & Walk-In Closet, Separate Side Entrance To Finished Basement In-Law Suite. Double Garage, Professionally Landscaped Lot, Large Veranda In Fantastic Location For Only $999,900!!

RANCH BUNGALOW ON 2.88 ACRE LOT

Simply Spectacular Renovated Home, Huge Family Room Addition, 3+1 Bdrm, Gourmet Kitchen, Skylights, Formal Dining Rm, Incredible Professionally Finished Basement Ideal for Entertaining, Theatre, Stage, Wet Bar or In-Law Suite, Detached 8 Car Garage, Ideal for Contractor, Warehouse For Home Based Business, Access to Walking Trails, Close to Hwy and Amenities! Must be seen! Only $999,900!

ER ANOTH D L SO

PRIME NORTH YORK LOCATION

Gorgeous Stunning Renovated 4+1 Backsplit, Modern Kitchen, S/S Appliances, Gleaming Hardwood Floors, Crown Mouldings, Open Concept Living Room, Huge Family Room, Separate Side Entrance to Finished Basement Ideal for Entertaining or In-Law Suite, Thousands Spent, Beautiful Professionally Landscaped Garden, Double Garage!

SOLD FAST FOR TOP DOLLAR!

SOUGHT AFTER STREETSvILLE

Power of Sale, Approx. 3,000 Sq Ft Plus Finished Bsmt, 4+1 Bedroom 2 Storey, Spacious Principle Rooms, Main Flr Family Room, Premium Lot, Inground Pool, Demand Neighbourhood, Amazing Value! SOLD FOR TOP DOLLAR

ER ANOTH SOLD

Amazing Opportunity to Live/Work In Alderwood! Modern & Well Maintained Corner Store-Front Complete W/ Two Large Self Contained 2 Bed/2 Bath Apartment Units. Retail Area Features Large Foyer/Reception, Huge Open Workspace, Separate Office, 2 Washrooms, Recently Finished Basement & Rear Entrance. Great Location Close To Hwys & Transit. Won’t Last Long!!! Only $719,000!

THE HEART OF KING CITY

Rare 1.4 Acre Ravine Lot with Salt Water Pool and Grassy Area Surrounded by Forest and Stream, Your own Private Oasis! Huge 4 Bdrm Raised Bungalow with 250 Foot Frontage and Commercial Potential, Many Updates Include Kitchen, Baths, Roof, Furnace, Windows & Family Room Addition, Vaulted Living Room, Close to Hwy 400, Just east of Jane and a Walk to Town! An Entertainer’s Dream for Only $1,099,000!

CABBAGETOWN LANDMARK

Totally Renovated Detached Toronto Home. Bright & Sunlit Architectural Masterpiece will Amaze You! 2 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Tempered Glass, 3 Balconies, Granite Floor, Custom Kitchen with B/I Appliances, Spacious & Open Concept with Approx. 1,000 Sq. Ft. of Living Space!, Sauna, Finished Basement, Beautiful Deck + Garden, One of a Kind! Simply Must be Seen! Only $699,900!

RIvER OAKS OAKvILLE

Fabulous Opportunity, Detached 3 Bedroom 2 Storey, Quality Built, Large Foyer, Oak Staircase, Large Kitchen, Ceramic Floor, Open Concept Living Room, Formal Dining Room, Walkout to Huge Deck, Large Yard, Master Bedroom, Walk In Closet, 4 Pce Ensuite, Garage, Private Drive, High Demand Neighbourhood! SOLD FAST FOR 100% OF ASKING

JUNCTION DUPLEX!!

Amazing Detached 2 Storey Located In The Junction Triangle!! Very Well Maintained 3+1 Bedroom, Great Curb Appeal, Perfect Turnkey Investment Property, Can Easily Be Converted Back To A Large Single Family Home. Many Recent Updates. 2-Car Garage With B/I Storage. Finished Basement W/ Separate Entrance. Private Backyard! Incredible Opportunity – Won’t Last!! Only $799,900!!

vELLORE vILLAGE SUPER vALUE!

Spacious 4+1 Bdrm 2 Storey Masterpiece With Premium Finishes. Exceptional Craftsmanship, Open Concept Layout, Crown Molding ,Pot lights, Hardwood Floors, Gourmet Kitchen, Granite Counter Tops, Marble Floor, S/S Appliances, Master Bdrm Retreat, Luxurious Ensuite, W/I Closet, Prof Finished Basement, Ideal For Entertaining Or Nanny Suite. Close to all amenities, Steps to Vaughan Mills, Transit, Go, School, Future Subway & Hospital. Simply Must be seen! Amazing Value! Only $749,000!!

ER ANOTH SOLD

vELLORE vILLAGE 4+1 BDRM!!

Gorgeous 2-Storey Semi Detached With Walkout Bsmt Linked Only By Garage! Open Concept Living+Dining Rms, Spacious Eat-In Kitchen, Master Bedrm W/Full Ensuite & W/I Closet, Finished Basement With Spacious Rec Rm, Office, Kitchen & Bedrm, potential in-law suite. Landscaped Lot, Deck, Private Drive, Fabulous Neighbourhood, Steps To All Amenities! Incredible Value. SOLD FAST FOR 113% OF ASKING!

NORSEMAN BUNGALOW

Solid 3 Bdrm Home on a Large Premium Lot with Approx. 50 Foot Frontage, Home in Original Condition, Huge Potential to Renovate/Rebuild, Great for Renovators/Contractors or Developers, Rare Lot in Prime Norseman Area! Super Value! Only $699,000!

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QUIET COURT LOCATION Detached 4+1 Bedroom 2 Storey, Renovated Kitchen, Huge Family Rm, Fireplace, Open Concept Living & Dining Rm, Gleaming Hardwood Floor, Finished Basement Ideal for Entertaining, Double Garage, Walkout to Fenced Backyard, 2 Tier Deck, Fabulous Family Neighbourhood! $675,000!

LUXURY WATERFRONT CONDO!!

Spacious open concept suite with 10ft ceilings, modern kitchen with Stainless Steel Appliances, Elegant Laminate Floors, Floor to ceiling Windows, Walkout to Gorgeous 370sqft Terrace with Views of Lake and Park. Fabulous Amenities and Steps to Transit, Must Be Seen Only $549,900!!

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CENTRAL ETOBICOKE OPPORTUNITY!!

Detached Bungalow on Large 40x133ft fully fenced lot. Needs some TLC, Huge Potential for Renovators, Contractors or Investors. Updated Windows& Doors, Furnace & A/C, Electrical Panel. Huge Basement, 6 Car Parking, Super Value. SOLD IN 1 WK FOR 113% OF ASKING!

GEORGETOWN OPPORTUNITY!!

Wonderful Family Neighborhood! Directly Across From Park. Detached 3 Bdrm Fernbrook Home On 54 x 120 Lot. Open Concept Living/Dining Room With Dark Laminate Flrs. Updated Kitchen with Walkout To Fully Fenced Backyard. Private Double Drive, Walking Distance To Schools/Shopping, Amazing Opportunity To Own! Must Be Seen! Only $485,900!!

OCEAN CLUB CONDOMINIUMS

Wonderfully Spacious 2 bdrm + den, Beautiful Panoramic views from the 285 Sq. Ft. Wrap Around Balcony. Floor to Ceiling Windows, Rich Dark Floors in Open Concept Living/Dining Room, Granite Kitchen Counters, Huge Master Bdrm with Ensuite. Luxurious Amenities. Great Location! Amazing Value!!! Only $384,900!

Brand New Luxurious Waterfront Resort Style Living, Fabulous 1+1 Bedroom Suite Loaded with Upgrades, Hardwood Floor, Built-in Appliances, Mirror Closet, Granite + Quartz Countertops, Large Balcony, Clear Gorgeous Views of Lake + Toronto Skyline, Amazing Value & Opportunity, Must Be Seen! Only $369,900!

RENOvATED 2 STOREY TOWNHOME!! Beautiful & spacious 3 bedroom plus den on ground floor. 3 baths, Private gated patio. Great location close to TTC, shopping, hwys, parks, schools. Excellent amenities. Shows very well. Must be seen, only $279,900!!

Stunning 1 Bdrm Unit Across from Humber Bay Park in South Etobicoke, Wide Layout with Unobstructed West View, Gourmet Kitchen with Granite Counters, Upgraded Cabinets and S/S Appliances,Two Walkouts to Huge Balcony, Large Master, 9 Foot Ceilings, World Class Amenities, 10 Min to Downtown, TTC at Door, Parking and Locker Included! Only $269,900!

LUXURY CONDO ACROSS FROM LAKE

E ANOTH D L O S

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Immaculately Maintained, 3+1 Bedrooms, Open Concept Living Rm, Formal Dining, Updated Family Size Kitchen, Separate Side Entrance to Finished Bsmt Ideal for In-Law Suite, Huge Rec Room, 2nd Kitchen Situated on Spacious Lot, Garage, Private Drive.

Stunning Home with Double Car Garage on a Large Lot Backing onto Park Near Bramalea City Centre, Renovated Top to Bottom including Brand New Kitchen and Main Bath, Professionally Finished Bsmt, New 24 x 12 Deck, Fabulous 32 x 16 Salt Water Heated Pool, Updated Roof/Windows/Furnace, Parks 8 Cars, Stunning Curb Appeal! Close to 410/Transit!

ER ANOTH SOLD

SOLD FAST FOR 104% OF ASKING!

REMINGTON BUILT

Fabulous Freehold 3 Bedroom in Credit Valley Neighbourhood, Large Foyer, Gleaming Hardwood Floors, Open Concept Living & Dining Room, Granite Countertop, Stainless Steel Appliances in Family Size Kitchen, Walkout to Spacious Yard, 4 Bathrooms, Finished Basement, Simply Must be Seen! SOLD IN 1 WK FOR 100% OF ASKING

SOLD IN 1 WK FOR 108% OF ASKING

ISLINGTON/ QUEENSWAY Prime Etobicoke Location, Quiet Executive Townhome, 3 Bedrooms, Huge Living/Family Room, Formal Dining, Needs TLC, Amazing Value + Opportunity!

HUGE PREMIUM PIE SHAPED LOT

Detached 3+1 Bedroom 2 Storey, Simply Fantastic Lot Professionally Landscaped Pattern Concrete Patio, Walkway & Driveway, Professionally Landscaped Garden, Custom Large Shed, Open Concept Living Room, Hardwood Floor, Family Size Kitchen, Walkout to Patio, Professionally Finished Bsmt, Close to Amenities! Only $549,900!

EXECUTIvE HOME

SOLD IN 1 WK FOR 103% OF ASKING!

Rarely Available in Demand Complex Near Etobicoke Creek, Renovated Modern Kitchen, Formal Dining Room, Spacious Open Concept Living Room, Walk Out to Large Deck Overlooking Tranquil Greenspace, Professionally Finished Basement, Wet Bar & Rec Room Ideal for Entertaining, Master Bedroom Retreat, High Demand Location! Only $479,900!

ONE PARK TOWER

CHARMING GEORGETOWN BUNGALOW Renovated and updated throughout. Modern and bright. Nothing to do but move-in and enjoy. Great for commuters, first-time buyers and downsizers. Excellent location close to schools, shopping, go station and more. Amazing value Only $343,900!!

Fabulous 1 + 1 Bedroom Suite At ‘Battery Park’!! Amazing West Views from The 21st Floor. Bright Open Concept Layout Features Great Living Space and Bedroom Area Plus a Separate Den W/French Doors. Just Steps to Trendy Liberty Village’s Many Restaurants & Cafes, Amenities, Transit & The Lake. Excellent Opportunity - Must Be Seen! $329,900!

AMAzING OPPORTUNITY!!

AMAzING vALUE IN WESTON!! Bright And Charming 2-Storey Stacked Townhouse!! Very Well Maintained 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Perfect For First Time Buyers And Investors. Many Recent Updates. Includes Parking And Locker. Close To Transit. Shows Amazing And Priced To Sell, Only $249,900!

Large Corner Suite Complete With 2 Bathrooms & 2 Parking Spots! Located On A Quiet Street Surrounded By Green Space, Many Upgrades Including Renovated Kitchen, Renovated Main Bath And 3 Piece Master Ensuite. In-Suite Laundry/ Storage, Spacious Master Bedroom, Living & Dining Rooms. Priced To Sell -- Must Be Seen!!

Luxury Daniels Built almost 1,000 Sq Ft! Stunning 2+1 Split Bedroom Layout, Granite Countertop, Stainless Steele Appliances, Gorgeous Floors, Open Concept Living & Dining Room, Walkout to Balcony, Master Bedroom, Walk-in Closet + Ensuite, 24 Hr Concierge, Amazing Amenities! Only $367,500!

Beautiful & Very Spacious 2-Story, 3 Bedrm Condo In The ‘Heart Of Mississauga’!! This Amazing Layout Is The Largest In The Building Featuring Approximately 1,750 S/F Of Living Space Plus 3 Separate Balconies! Panoramic Views Of The Lake And Downtown T.O.! Very Well Maintained – Newly Painted, Recently Refinished Floors, In ‘Move-In’ Condition. Large Bedrooms (2 Ensuites) And Living Room W/ Real Wood-Burning Fireplace. Perfect For First Time Buyers or Downsizers Looking For Amazing Location and Space -- Don’t Miss Out!! $249,900!

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$119,900 - 3 BEDROOM CONDO!!

SEE MORE PHOTOS: www.GetLeo.com Call Today 416-917-LION (5466) and Start Packing! Not intended to solicit persons under contract. *Certain Conditions May Apply. ReMax West Realty Inc. does not guarantee the sale of your home. Exclusively offered by Frank Leo.

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015

Home SellinG SyStem

Give them the gift of a new home thisof holiday season! South Animal Shelter 15 Nova Scotia Ave., 416.338.6668 East Animal Shelter 821 Progress Ave., 416.338.7539

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015 |

HOLIDAY HEARING SAVINGS Special

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More than 2,500 Syrian refugees to land in Toronto In committing to support refugee families from Syria in Canada, residents of Toronto currently lead the country. The new federal government is still a long way from meeting its goal to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February, but its Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) department announced this month where the first 4,584 are going. More than half of them, 2,602, will land in Toronto, the government’s numbers say. A portion of that total is listed as being in process for “Willowdale” – 1,079. Hratch Aynedjian, who lives in Scarborough and is sponsoring two families at his home, says that’s because the Armenian Community Centre in North York is arranging for

T h o s e s p o n s o r s “a re committed to supporting the refugees they sponsor on the understanding that the refugee(s) will live in the sponsor’s community and work with them so that the refugee(s) can become independent,” the department said in response to questions. “We anticipate more communities will get involved in supporting the settlement and integration of these refugees,” the CIC added in last Tuesday’s release. Besides resolving larger issues such as finding work, refugees need help with things such as getting health cards and learning how to ride a bus in Toronto, said Aynedjian, who is executive assistant to a Scarborough councillor. “In many ways I feel like I’m saving lives,” Aynedjian said.

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1,000 people to come here. Aynedjian said these refugees are Armenian Christians and most are from Aleppo, one of Syria’s largest cities. The community centre west of Victoria Park Avenue, one of hundreds of sponsorship agreement holders across the country, “is going all out,” he added last Wednesday. The CIC figures also say 1,326 Syrians will be arriving in midtown or downtown Toronto, 156 refugees are coming to Scarborough, 18 to Etobicoke and 23 to elsewhere in North York. It’s not clear where the families – the Liberal government is not accepting single men for security reasons – will actually be staying. The CIC said the listed communities, such as Willowdale, are where private sponsors have applied to be hosts.

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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015 |

transit

New HOT lanes will start on QEW The province is moving ahead, albeit slowly, on High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca announced this week the QEW between Guelph and Oakville beginning next summer will convert to HOT from the current HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes. The carpool lanes will still remain free to anyone traveling with at least one passenger, but single-occupant vehicles will also be able to legally use the lanes by purchasing a special permit. The pilot project is expected to pave the way for more HOT lanes on Ontario highways, but likely not until 2021. Road tolls advocacy group Transport Futures called it a start, but said the modest implementation plan might lead to “underwhelming results”. PLANNED SUBWAY CLOSURES by ttc wNO

There aren’t any more planned subway closures by the TTC until March.

rahul gupta TO in TRANSIT That will come as a great relief for riders, who have had to opt for shuttle buses while the TTC performed essential maintenance or construction work on selected weekends. Such closures have become the norm while the TTC continues to re-signal much of the subway network, so expect frequent weekend closures to resume following the break. REJECTS LRT NAME REQUESTS wMETROLINX

Competing requests to rename an Eglinton Crosstown stop in Scarborough were turned down by Metrolinx, the provincial agency in charge of building the light-rail line along Eglinton Avenue. Metrolinx rejected a request by members of the TTC board to rename the Lebovic Avenue stop in honour of Karim Hakimi, the founder of Hakim Optical. The only problem is an existing naming policy

preventing the naming of infrastructure after living persons, and Hakimi is still going strong at 82. Metrolinx also turned down a request from Centennial College to rename the Lebovic stop after the college’s Ashtonbee campus on the basis it’s not directly located on Eglinton. WI-FI available AT SUBWAY STATIONS wMORE

You can now get free Wi-Fi access at four more subway stations, the TTC announced last week. The TCONNECT service is now available at Christie, Bathurst, Sherbourne and Castle Frank stations. These join the stations located on the lower U portion of the subway line. BAI Canada, which is carrying out the Wi-Fi installation, has pledged to connect every TTC station by 2017. Rahul Gupta is Metroland Media Toronto’s transit reporter. His column appears every Thursday. Reach him on Twitter: @TOinTRANSIT

GO fares set to increase RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com Most riders won’t be happy, but 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 under $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 which 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.

“

No one likes a fare increase.

– GO president Greg Percy

“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. 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. “We do look at the pricing of our fares compared to the alternative of getting in your car, paying for gas and paying for parking,” he said. 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 one likes a fare increase,” Percy told the Metrolinx board during its quarterly meeting Thursday, Dec. 3. “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 more than 80 per cent of GO riders use. 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.

The holiday season is fast approaching and this year, make it about giving back to those less fortunate.

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A publication of

Some choices violated naming policy >>>from page 1 Fisch mentioned he had recently travelled to Australia and found its way-finding system of street names and also mentioning major landmarks very easy to understand. In the case of the Crosstown, he told the board too much attention was being paid to local historical neighbourhood names which visitors to the area likely wouldn’t know. “This should be for people who are not part of the community, who don’t know the streets at all,” he said. Chair Rob Prichard echoed his colleague’s concerns in regards to Fairbank, the pro-

posed name for the station at Dufferin Street. “Fairbank means nothing to me, whereas Dufferin and Eglinton, it’s pretty easy to figure out where that is,” he said. Metrolinx vice-president Leslie Woo said the final list was submitted following a public consultation which yielded over 1,200 comments in feedback and some 1,500 online ratings. She said the decision to come up with the final Crosstown list was based on a longstanding policy agreement between Toronto region transit agencies including the TTC.

That’s why, she said, the agency had to acquiesce to the transit commission’s recent request to rename the Crosstown stop at Eglinton West station Cedarvale. By the same token, multiple requests to re-name the Lebovic Avenue stop could also be rejected, said Woo, since the choices violated the naming policy. “I can’t guarantee we’ll be pleasing everyone, but I think we will want to uphold the integrity of the policy which was established with our partners,” Woo told the board. Metrolinx staff will now report back to the board later this month with a modified set of Crosstown station names.

Lift more than spirits

WINNER www.insidetoronto.com/history onto.com/history Congratulations to STEVEN FICKO who won a $250 Digital Treasures Gift Card courtesy of Digital Treasures Thank you to everyone who entered the contest

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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015 |

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Job title: In-home caregiver for children

Terms of employment: Full-time (overtime, day, evening, week-end, night) Duration: 2 years. Hourly salary: CAD$11.25, Private health insurance - Worker’s Compensation Board Transportation costs between the worker’s country of current residence and the work location in Canada paid, if applicable. Location: Toronto, Ontario. Employer: Mark Daily duties: Supervise and care for children in employer’s residence; Bath, dress an feed children; Oversee children’s activities, such as meals and rest periods, as instructed by parents; Instruct children in personal hygiene and social development, as instructed by parents; Tend to the emotional well-being of children; Discipline children according to the recommendations of parents; Organize and participate in activities and outings to provide amusement and exercise, as instructed by parents; Plan, prepare and serve meals for children; Sterilize bottles, prepare formulas and change diapers for children; Perform light housekeeping and cleaning duties; Take children to and from school and to appointments, when necessary; Assume full responsibility for household in absence of parents; Travel with family on trips and assist with children supervision; Keep records of daily activities and health information regarding children; and, Maintain a healthy environment in the home. Education & Experience: Completion of secondary school or equivalent; and, One (1) year of full-time and remunerated child-care experience as in-home caregiver during the past three (3) years; or, Six (6) months of full-time classroom training related to children caregiving. Work setting: Private home. Languages: Ability to understand, speak, read and write English.

Contact information: Email: recruitment543@gmail.com

$20+ PER HOUR 55• POSITIONS Account Manager

• Senior Sales Reps • Field Manager •Labour • Sales Call today 416-840-7717 Ontariojobs2015@gmail.com

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR SCHOOL

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Travel & Vacations

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Waste Removal

Articles for Sale

Business Services

From home or business, including furniture/ appliances, construction waste.

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Vehicles Wanted/Wrecking

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Cash 4 Cars

Dead or alive Same day Fast FREE Towing 416-831-7399

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Need a personal or business startup Capital ? Get 100% financing on business investment or consolidation rates from 2.9% regardless of your credit or bankruptcy. Call now at: 1-866-642-1116 Mortgages/Loans

Mortgages/Loans

MONEY

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Domestic Help Available

ABSOLUTELY BEST cleaning ladies available. Honest & hard working, insured/ bonded. 416-897-6782. www.maidforyoutorontoltd.com

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Vehicles Wanted/Wrecking

RAY PLUMBING Service Repair/ replacement, faucets, sinks, toilets, drains, main valve, leaky pipes, drain cleaning. Licensed and insured. 24/7. 416-876-6679 Flooring & Carpeting

Flooring & Carpeting

NESO FLOORING

Carpet installation starting from $1.19/ sq.ft. Hardwood, laminate at low prices. 27 yrs experience. Free Estimates. Best Price!

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Appliance Repairs/ Installation

Professional Repairs of all brands of:

$500 loans and more No credit checks 1-877-776-1660 Apply at moneyprovider.com Legal Services

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CRIMINAL RECORD? Canadian Record Suspension (Criminal pardon) seals record. American waiver allows legal entry. Why risk employment, business, travel, licensing, deportation, peace of mind? Free consultation: 1-800-347-2540

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Refrigeration, Stoves, Dishwashers, Washers, Dryers, Air Conditioning, & Heating. Free Estimates. Warranty, Credit cards accepted. Seniors discount. 416-616-0388

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Business Services

Waste Removal

PETER’S DEPENDABLE JUNK REMOVAL

STEEL BUILDINGS/METAL BUILDINGS UP TO 60% OFF! 30x40, 40x60, 50x80, 60x100, 80x100 sell for balance owed! Call: 1-800-457-2206 www.crownsteelbuildings.ca

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Remembering Our Appearing on Loved Ones In Thursday,

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December 24

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Parents & Grandparents! This is your opportunity to celebrate ALL BABIES born this year or in the past!

Babies 2015 of

Announce the arrival of your new baby, or use this special keepsake to recognize a baby born in the past. BABIES OF 2015 are scheduled to appear in COLOUR on

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

Only

electrical 416 419-1772

4 Knob and tube replacement 4 Service upgrades 4 Aluminum wire reconditioning 4 Breakers/Panels 4 Electrical Home Inspections 4 Pot Lights 4 FREE ESTIMATES Master Electrician * License # 7001220 * Insured www.burtonelectric.ca mark.burton@burtonelectric.ca

North AmericAN Best roofiNg iNc • Shingles • Flat • Eaves • Soffit & Fascia • Skylight • Repair

Small Job Specialists

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

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roofing

Burton Electric Inc. NA ROOFING

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ALWAYS CHEAPEST!

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YOUR Weekly Crossword

Sudoku (difficult)

How to do it: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3 by 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

last week’s answers

diversions

roofing

BaySprings Plumbing

PLUS HST

To meet our publishing deadlines, all requests and photos must be submitted no later than MONDAY, DECEMBER 21. Please allow extra time for the mail.

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Home Improvement Directory

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puzzles in next Thursday’s edition

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015

Classifieds

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 10, 2015 |

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