The City Centre Mirror North, January 21 2016 by The City Centre Mirror

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inside Summerhill Market introduces bugs to its gourmet fare / 3

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YMCA Sprott House will offer a youth shelter for LGBTQ2S JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com

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Annex youth shelter YMCA Sprott House is changing its stripes, transforming into a facility dedicated to serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and twospirited (LGBTQ2S) homeless youth. The 25-bed transitional housing program is slated to re-open with its new mandate shortly, with new residents set to begin moving into the space on Walmer Road on Feb. 1. Mayor John Tory, local councillor Joe Cressy and others spoke of the need for such a facility at an announcement on Thursday, Jan. 14. “Today we’re announcing that

yoga at the rom

Have your say at a couple of pop-up meetings

one of the city’s two LGBTQ2S transitional housing services approved in the 2015 budget will be opening right here on Feb. 1,” Cressy said. “When these sites were approved, they were the first of their kind in our country and this is the largest program of its kind in all of Canada.” Tory pointed out the City of Toronto made significant commitments in its 2015 budget to support members of the LGBTQ2S community, adding the city is committed to improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalized communities. “We made the necessary allotment in terms of support and decision-making in the last year >>>YMCA, page 13

Covenant House steps up fight against sex trafficking Covenant House is partnering with police, health care providers, youth organizations and others in a bid to combat sex trafficking. The plan will offer a number of measures, from prevention to additional services for victims of sex trafficking, including transitional housing, and the development of an online hub. By bringing together resources ranging from

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law enforcement to health care providers to youth-based service agencies, it is hoped the “urban response model” proposed will help to reduce sex trafficking. A $10-million fundraising campaign to help support the holistic anti-trafficking plan was launched at Covenant House Toronto on Wednesday. For more info, visit www.covenanthousetoronto.ca

Staff photo

Balance: Instructor Shara Brown leads a yoga class held Saturday at the ROM's Samuel Hall Currelly Gallery.

Community consultations are gearing up as the City of Toronto looks to finalize a strategy to manage growth in the Yonge-Eglinton area. The city has undertaken numerous studies in recent years to prepare for a spate of high-rise developments around the major intersection, with a growth analysis, built form study, infrastructure review, and cultural heritage resource assessment currently ongoing. To help ensure it covers all its bases, the city is looking to the public to provide input on priorities for the area. An interactive map on the City of Toronto website (www.toronto. ca/planning/yongeeglinton) allows those who live, work, or visit the area to comment on the services, landmarks, cultural heritage, views, and transit options. The city is also hosting a series of pop-up meetings where the public can hear more about the work going on and offer their feedback. The next meeting will take place at the North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Ave. W., from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24. That will be followed by another meeting at the main entrance to Davisville subway station from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

Anyone looking to provide additional feedback can do so by contacting Ian Malczewski at imalczewski@swerhun.com by Jan. 31.

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FINDING DEALS: Counter clockwise from top right, Johanne Bartell, right, displays her handmade toques to a couple of shoppers, inside the Leslieville flea market in the Distillery District Sunday. Kevin Kennedy, left and Hank Ivory performed classic folk and shoppers take a look at antique dishware and glass.

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Bugs found in new gourmet offerings But don’t worry, Summerhill Market is just ‘trying to stay ahead of trends’ with insect delicacies JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Summerhill Market is giving its customers a chance to fill up their shopping buggies with something a little buggy. The upscale grocery store has introduced crickets and mealworms to its usual gourmet fare, both as flavoured snacks on their own and baked into specialty dessert items for those with adventurous tastes. “We’re a specialty store, so we’re always trying to stay ahead of trends,” said Summerhill Market general manager Brad McMullen. “I heard that this was predicted to become a big trend in 2016 and then I found out we have a big grower locally, just outside of Peterborough.” Crickets and mealworms are both high in protein, and raising them for food is far more environmentally friendly than raising cattle and other livestock. Beyond that, there’s a definite novelty factor to eating insects, whether on their own or as part of fare such as peanut butter mealworm balls or a

our customers and sold the remaining ones, so that was definitely popular.” Early reaction to Summerhill Market’s new offerings has decidedly been mixed, though McMullen said it seems there are as many people who are eager to try it as there are people who are put off by the notion of eating insects. Most, he said, are at least open to the concept, even if they may be wary at first.

“

I heard that this was predicted to become a big trend in 2016 and then I found out we have a big grower locally, just outside of Peterborough. – Brad McMullen, Summerhill Market GM

Staff photo/JUSTIN SKINNER

Fancy a little chocolate mint cricket pie, as showcased here by Summerhill Market owner Brad McMullen and head pastry chef Thea Bourne?

chocolate mint cricket pie. “The cricket pie is a play

on the grasshopper pie, which is chocolate and mint

flavoured,” McMullen said. “We sampled a few with

Summerhill Market head pastry chef Thea Bourne said the cricket pie is made with cricket powder – akin to flour, but far denser – in the crust and chocolate-covered crickets as garnish. The mealworm balls have an oat base with peanut butter and

maple syrup for flavour and mealworms for protein. “There are some people who have the gross-out factor – we’ve had one staff member who wouldn’t work with (the insects) – but most people will talk about it,” she said. Tiny snack packs Tiny snack packs in various flavours – barbecue, sea salt and pepper, and honey mustard to name a few – give shoppers a chance to taste test the insects, while those who visit Summerhill Market can also bring home a bag of cricket powder for their own baking. Whether six-legged snacks take off remains to be seen, but McMullen is optimistic. “There’s been a lot of intrigue, and we’ve had people who have bought some packets (of crickets or mealworms) just to see what they’re all about,” he said. “But a big part of it was that we just thought it was something fun and different.” To get a taste of Summerhill Market’s cricket or mealworm offerings, drop by the store at 446 Summerhill Ave.

Mayor John Tory open to scaled-back SmartTrack DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com Mayor John Tory’s city-spanning SmartTrack transit plan will be scaled back, with light rail replacing heavy rail at the western end of it, according to a set of reports released by Toronto staff and the University of Toronto. But even in its scaled-back form, the viability of the massive transit project relies on conditions that may not be possible: a five-minute headway between trains, and the ability to ride the trains running on GO lines at Toronto Transit Commission fares. The two reports were released Tuesday and Mayor Tory was quick to modify what had begun as an ironclad election promise: to run heavy rail lines from Markham

through Scarborough and downtown Toronto, and west through Etobicoke. “Now that these expert studies are available you will not find me digging in my heels on projects that don’t make sense, cost too much or don’t provide the most efficient service to our residents,” he said. “When it comes to projects like this we ultimately have to rely on the expertise of our planning team.” Toronto’s planning team unveiled its qualified support of the plan at a technical briefing after Tory’s statement. First among the recommendations were a major change to the plan: to abandon plans to build a new heavy rail corridor west of Mount Dennis. The corridor would need to

be tunneled for “significant stretches” which would raise construction costs – ranging from $3.6 billion to $4.8 billion for a northeastern corridor, and between $3.7 billion to $7.7 billion for the Eglinton corridor.

“

When it comes to projects like this we ultimately have to rely on the expertise of our planning team. – Mayor John Tory

Extending the Eglinton LRT along Eglinton would, in contrast, cost $1.3 billion. And projected boardings on the LRT by 2031 would be three times higher than the Eglinton heavy rail alignment, and twice as high as a north-

ern alignment. The city also commissioned a ridership forecast for the entire route, prepared by U of T professor Eric Miller. He looked at a number of different variables, and found that SmartTrack would be an effective release for congestion on the Yonge line – assuming that certain conditions applied. First, riders would have to pay a TTC fare – the more expensive GO Transit fare would be a disincentive. Second, trains would have to operate frequently, about five minutes apart. Both of those are challenges, in that the trains would be operating on GO Transit lines and any fare integration would likely amount to some amount between the lower TTC fares and the

higher GO Transit fares. As well, running more frequent service along lines currently used by less-frequent GO trains would mean that there would need to be significant new track construction so that trains from one service didn’t run up against those of the other. Staff told reporters that absent a fare integration and decent headway, it was unlikely that the SmartTrack plan would be recommended at all. Pa r k d a l e - H i g h Pa r k Councillor Gord Perks, a frequent critic of Mayor Tory’s transit plans, suggested those conditions and others were impossible to meet. “The other thing that makes it impossible is the physical configuration of the track and the capacity

at Union Station,” he said. “They’ve got four problems that can’t be solved in order to get the optimum outcome.” TTC Chair Josh Colle (Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence), meanwhile, offered a more optimistic reaction, calling SmartTrack “a positive development for Toronto’s transit and transportation network.” He wrote in a prepared statement: “The SmartTrack ridership projections released today suggest that local commutes on our regional rail system could significantly decrease the pressure on the overburdened Yonge subway by as much as 17 per cent,” he said. “SmartTrack will also integrate with existing busy TTC bus routes and help transit riders travel quickly and seamlessly across our city.”

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 21, 2016

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 21, 2016 |

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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Have a say on the future of Toronto

oronto residents can have their say on making our city a better place by taking part in a series of public consultations over the next week. Social Planning Toronto will be hosting four community meetings to talk about its future direction and what its priorities should be over the next five years. The first meeting is tonight in Etobicoke, followed by others downtown, in York and in Scarborough. In its mission statement, Social Planning Toronto says it is committed to “building a civic society in which diversity, equity, social and economic justice, interdependence and active civic participation are central to all aspects of life.” Now there’s something all our view Torontonians can get behind. After all, this is the city we Attend a have chosen to call home, raise families and live our lives meeting, have our in. voice heard What could be more important than contributing to a healthy future for Toronto? One of the areas Social Planning Toronto would most like to hear from residents is on dealing with change. That seems to be a constant in everyone’s lives these days, and it’s no different for a city. What do we need to do and know about our city’s changing demographics, be they cultural or financial; proposed residential and business developments and the impacts they will have on existing neighbourhoods; differing health-care needs and the challenges in serving what is in many parts of the city an aging population; the need for green spaces and recreational opportunities; and, our clogged roads and numerous transit plans? These all affect life in the city, and our voices need to be heard on these issues. Taking the opportunity to be an engaged citizen, rather than just a complaining resident, is crucial to our city’s future. We encourage residents to attend one of the Social Planning Toronto meetings over the next week. They are tonight, Jan. 21, at Thistletown Multi-Service Centre, 925 Albion Rd., starting at 5:30 p.m.; on Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the College Street United Church, 454 College St.; Jan. 26 at 10 a.m. at the Social Planning Toronto office, 1652 Keele St.; and Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. at Scarborough Village Community Centre, 3600 Kingston Rd. To learn more about Social Planning Toronto or to find out how to register for the meetings, go to www.socialplanningtoronto.org

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.

column

Budget balancing continues along in haphazard way If all goes through as planned, it looks as though Mayor John Tory will have passed two out of two unsustainable annual city budgets by February. In 2015, you may recall, Toronto’s budget committee found itself in a panic over the end to pooling grants from the province, that had helped Toronto deal with the cost of social housing that is much higher here than in other GTA municipalities. City officials thrashed about trying to find a way to fill the $86-million hole and eventually approved a complex plan to loan itself money from its capital reserves — a move that might, absent another robust year of land transfer tax-collection, have squeezed the city for years to come. As it was, surpluses and reserves helped minimize the debt that Toronto will eventually have to repay to itself. That was a lucky break. And maybe there will be another lucky break, after Toronto Council gets through

david nickle the city with this year’s budget. This time, there’s no unexpected trouble that’s shown up to mess up a perfectly balanced budget. Rather, the city administration has made it clear that Mayor Tory and Toronto Council have created pressures that a simple balance-sheet budgeting exercise can’t resolve. To whit: an inflationary property tax increase as Mayor Tory has insisted on can’t deal with either the growing cost of simply standing still, or the many enhancements and improvements that council and the mayor approved and announced this year. Politicians, the city manager said, would have to come up with solutions. So this past Monday (Jan. 18), budget chief Gary Crawford brought forward a solution. It involves an oldfashioned raid on reserves,

recalibrating various revenue projections to more optimistic numbers, and demands on big-ticket agencies like the Toronto Transit Commission and the Toronto Police Service to simply do more with less. It is not exactly what happened in 2015, but it is in the spirit of it. Toronto will dig into its rainy-day reserves and ask for an arbitrarily large amount of economizing from its management staff, and keep the city lurching along for another year. It’s easy to shrug when you look at this, because so many Toronto budgets have been balanced in exactly this haphazard way — hoping that a booming economy will keep the land transfer tax revenue high, dipping into savings, stretching staffing resources— and things always seem to have turned out OK. Roads are more or less fixed, programs in one form or another are delivered, and life in Toronto’s many neighbourhoods goes on.

So why not simply continue along this route? When erosion is this slow in its effect, is it erosion at all? The short answer is yes. The long answer is that with the declining dollar and sluggish economy, at some point the land transfer tax — which has above all else kept the city afloat — is going to plateau and decline along with real estate sales. If Toronto isn’t prepared for that with a reasonable attitude toward taxes and revenues, that erosion will quickly turn into a collapse. That may happen by Mayor Tory’s third budget given the indicators. And that will mean that this one will be the last time that councillors can avoid making the difficult choices they should have made long ago. When that time comes, they’d better have a plan B.

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

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w Friday, Jan. 22

Mozart And Mozetich WHEN: 8 to 10 p.m. WHERE: Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W. CONTACT: Margaret Chasins, 416-4990403, www.sinfoniatoronto.com/ web/home.aspx COST: Free Sinfonia Toronto’s next concert will spotlight masterpieces by Mozart and one of the finest Canadian composers Marjan Mozetich.

w Saturday, Jan. 23

Jazz Manouche Concert WHEN: 8 a.m. WHERE: Alliance Francaise, 24 Spadina Rd. CONTACT: www.alliance-francaise.ca/ en/culture/cultures-without-borders/ jazz-manouche-from-paris-to-torontoCOST: Free Roberto Rosenman brings the rich sounds of 1930s jazz to North America, making a few musical stopovers along the way. DeCoding Digifest WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. WHERE: George Brown College, St. James Campus, 200 King St. E. CONTACT: Richelle Sibolboro, 416-415-5000, ext. 3152, http://torontodigifest. ca/2016/2016-schedule/decodingdigifest COST: $10 Participants will enter an “artist studio” where they will have 30

originals with popular classic tunes.

w Monday, Jan. 25

minutes to discover and solve strategically placed games throughout the space.

w Sunday, Jan. 24

Just Write! WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon WHERE: Central Eglinton Community Centre, 160 Eglinton Ave. E. CONTACT: www.centraleglinton.com COST: $90 for eight classes Warm-up exercises followed by prompts to stimulate ideas and imaginations. Sharing optional.

Robbie Burns’ Day Celebration WHEN: noon to 4 p.m. WHERE: Mackenzie House, 82 Bond St. CONTACT: 416-392-6915, machouse@ toronto.ca COST: Adults $7.08, seniors/youth $4.42, children $3.76 (plus tax) Celebrate the birthday of the Scottish poet with toe-tapping live music, shortbread and a taste of haggis, and hear some comical stories about that oft’ misunderstood concoction.

Maya Ben David and Alvin Luong WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. opening reception WHERE: Trinity Square Video, 401 Richmond St. W. No. 376 CONTACT: www.trinitysquarevideo.com/ maya-ben-david-and-alvin-luong COST: Free New works by Maya Ben David and Alvin Luong.

Singalong Soiree WHEN: 7:29 to 9:30 p.m. WHERE: Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. CONTACT: www.gatheringsparks. com COST: pay what you can Gathering Sparks (Jane Lewis & Eve Goldberg) presents an evening of music that you can join in on. They combine their most singalongable

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Brain Injury Society of Toronto WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. WHERE: Northern District Library, 40 Orchard View Blvd. CONTACT: Meri Perra, 416-830-1485, info@bist.ca COST: Free Are you curious about art therapy? The new year is a great time to try something new, and explore different parts of your imagination and emotions. The January community meeting is about art therapy, and the benefits of incorporating creativity in your life following brain injury.

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Movie Thursday - The Past WHEN: 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Alliance Francaise, 24 Spadina Rd. CONTACT: http://www.alliance-francaise.ca/en/ culture/cinema/movie-thursday-thepast COST: Free An Iranian man deserts his French wife and her two children to return to his homeland. Meanwhile, his wife starts up a new relationship, a reality her husband confronts upon his wife’s request for a divorce. and more.

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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 21, 2016

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6 CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 21, 2016 |

health

Queen’s Park orders hospitals to ensure parking is affordable BLACK HISTORY MONTH Programs & Events At Toronto Public Library illustration: iveyhayesartwork.com

ADULTS & TEENS Kick Off Gala Enjoy a spectrum of performance art in celebration of Black History Month. Hosted by CTV’s Marci Ien. Friday, January 29, 7 pm Toronto Reference Library, Atrium, 789 Yonge St.

False Nostalgia? Toronto’s Last 10, 20 & 30 Years

Journalist and cultural activist Desmond Cole highlights the successes and challenges of Toronto’s black community.

Tuesday, February 2, 7 pm Toronto Reference Library, Hinton Learning Centre 789 Yonge St.

Before the 6ix Explore the pre-Drake music scene and the trail blazers that helped shape it. With Exclaim! magazine editor Del Cowie.

The eh List: Craig Shreve Author Craig Shreve discusses the civil rights era in Mississippi. Book signing to follow. Thursday, February 11, 7 pm Yorkville Branch, 22 Yorkville Ave.

The eh List: George Elliott Clarke Governor General’s Award winner George Elliott Clarke on his latest novel, The Motorcyclist. Book signing to follow. Thursday, February 25, 7 pm Lillian H. Smith Branch, 239 College St.

KIDS & FAMILIES Puppet Show: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock An afternoon of traditional African stories for all ages. Saturday, February 20, 2 pm Palmerston Branch, 560 Palmerston Ave.

Wednesday, February 10, 7 pm Toronto Reference Library, Atrium, 789 Yonge St.

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The Ontario government is mandating that hospitals across the province make parking for visitors more affordable. As of Oct. 1 of this year, hospitals that charge more than $10 a day for parking will be required to provide 5-, 10- and 30-day passes that are discounted by 50 per cent off their daily rate; transferable between patients and caregivers; equipped with in-andout privileges throughout a 24-hour period; and are good for one year from the date of purchase. The province consulted with patients, patient advocacy groups, hospitals and the Ontario Hospital Association to come up with the plan that reduces the financial burden of parking fees for patients and their visitors, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care said in a press release on Monday, Jan. 18. ‘Providing relief’ “Parking fees should never be a barrier for patients when they go to the hospital,” said Minister of Health (and St. Paul’s MPP) Dr. Eric Hoskins in the release. “With today’s announcement, we are providing relief

“

Parking fees should never be a barrier for patients when they go to the hospital.

from the high cost of parking at some hospitals in Ontario. By making parking more affordable for patients and their loved ones who visit the hospital often, we are helping to reduce the burden of parking fees and putting patients first.” Between now and the implementation of the new policy in October, hospitals will work with their Patient and Family Advisory Councils to ensure it is well promoted and understandable. Individual hospitals will provide more details on their specific parking policy and discounts, the press release said. Approximately 900,000 patients and visitors – including 135,000 seniors – are expected to benefit from reduced parking fees each year, the release said. The ministry consulted with a number of hospitals

– Dr. Eric Hoskins

and the Ontario Hospital Association in regards to parking fee changes in the fall of last year. ‘best efforts’ As part of the new policy, The ministry will require hospitals that do not own their own parking lots “to make best efforts to influence their partners, like municipalities and private operators to cap or cut parking fees for those who must visit the hospital frequently.” According to Monday’s release, 45 Ontario hospitals currently offer free parking and 54 charge $10 or less per day. It is estimated that 36 hospitals charge more than $10 a day. The government is also directing hospitals not to raise their daily parking rates for the next three years starting Jan. 18, 2016.

Commission will help victims of flawed Motherisk testing The province of Ontario has officially launched a commission to support those impacted by the flawed testing procedures at the Motherisk laboratory at the Hospital for Sick Children. Motherisk came under fire last month when it was determined the program – which called for hair analysis as a means of drug and alcohol testing in criminal and child protection cases – was

inadequate and often led to mistaken conclusions. Judge Susan Lang said in a December 2015 report that child custody cases between 2005 and 2015 that used a Motherisk test should be reviewed further in light of the unreliability of the tests. The new two-year review launched by the provincial government will seek to find those who were tested

through Motherisk and negatively impacted by flaws in the testing. Led by provincial judge Judith Beaman, the program will also provide counselling, and legal and other support to individuals impacted by flawed Motherisk tests. Anyone who feels they have been negatively impacted by a Motherisk test between the years of 1990 and 2015 can call 1-855-235-8932.

7 | CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 21, 2016

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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!!

ER ANOTH D SOL

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qUEEN/SPADINA Free Standing Building, Multi-Use Zoning Commercial, Retail & Residential 7,000 Sq Ft of Finished Space, Rear Addition, 3 Separate Entrances, Cold Storage Vault (Previous Fur Store) Roof Top Terrace, 3 Car Parking, Fantastic Opportunity & Location! $2,800,000!

Luxury Custom-Built Home Located On Quiet Cul-De-Sac! Stunning 4 Bed, 5 Bath Open Concept Layout W/ Features That Include High Ceilings Throughout, Superior Finishes, Amazing Gourmet Kitchen W/Viking Appliances, Natural Stone Flooring, Large Master Bedroom W/ Spa-Like Ensuite, Finished Basement W/ Heated Flooring & Walkout, And Much More. No Expense Spared! Only $2,088,000

COOKSVILLE ESTATE!!

Spectacular Stone Mansion Nestled On Sprawling Gated Lot!! Absolutely One-Of-A-Kind, Approximately 5000 sqft, This Grand 5 Bedroom Family Home Sits On Approximately ¾ Acres And Is Surrounded By Mature Trees. 221 ft Frontage Makes This Property Ideal For Potential Future Development With Many New Multi-Million Dollar Homes Already Built In The Area. Very Rare Opportunity – Must Be Seen!

SOLD FOR TOP DOLLAR!

RICHMOND HILL MASTERPIECE

Brand New Custom Home, Spectacular Brick & Stone, 4+1 Bedroom, 2 Storey, Situated on Premium 50 x 150 Ft. Lot on End of Cul-deSac, Premium Finishes, Quality Materials, Fantastic Layout, Over 5,600 Sq. Ft. of Living Space, Formal Dining Rm, Crown Mouldings, Coffered Ceilings, Gleaming Hardwood Floors, Gourmet Kitchen, Quartz Counter, S/S Appliances, Bright Sunlit, Skylight, Master Bdrm Retreat, Professionally Finished Bsmt, Plus Much More!

SOLD FOR TOP DOLLAR!

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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!

BATHURST AND CENTRE

Wiltshire High Demand Location & Neighbourhood Executive Detached Luxury 4+1 Bdrm 2 Storey Plus Finished Bsmt Ideal for In-Law/ Nanny Suite, Marble Foyer, Custom Kitchen, Granite Countertop, S/S Appliances, Interlock Drive, Large Landscaped Lot, Patio , Double Garage, Plus Much More! Only $999,900!

HIGH PARK DETACHED

Gorgeous Original Wood, Filled With Character + Charm, 4+1 Bdrms, Large Living Room, Hardwood Floor, Highwood Baseboards +Trim, Solid Doors, Formal Dining Room, Separate Side Entrance, Spacious Backyard, Rare Private Drive, Garage, Amazing Value + Location, High Demand Neighbourhood! SOLD IN 1 WK FOR 112% OF ASKING!

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LUXURY PALACE PIER

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!

HIGH PARK DUPLEX Prime Location, Gorgeous Victorian 3+1 Bedroom 3 Storey, Separate Entrances, 2 Hydro Meters, 2 Sundecks, Balcony, Thousands in Upgrades and Updates, Private Drive, Fabulous Opportunity, Close to All Amenities! $1,085,000!

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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!

PRIME NORSEMAN HEIGHTS

Situated on 50 Ft Lot in High Demand Location, Detached 3+1 Bdrm Bungalow, Live in & Enjoy or Amazing Investment Potential for Renovator, Contractor or Developer. New 2 Storey Recently Sold for $1,490,000 in Area. Finished Basement, Interlock Driveway, Simply Must be Seen! Super Value! $829,900

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6TH ANGUS GLEN

Luxurious Resort Style Boutique Championship Golf Course Community, Sub Penthouse 1+1 Bdrm,Thousands in Quality Upgrades, 2 Parking Spaces, Locker, 2 Year Free Maintenance Fee Plus 1 Year Individual Membership to Angus Academy, Set Amidst Million Dollar Homes, 20,000 Sq Ft of Outdoor Amenity Space, Being Sold Under Assignment. Only $738,800!

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!

ER ANOTH S O LD

COLLEGE & SHAW One of Toronto’s High Demand Neighbourhoods + Location, 3 Bdrm 2 Storey, Gorgeous Original Wood, Open Concept Living & Dining Room, Finished Bsmt, Detached Garage. Amazing Value & Opportunity! Only $699,900!

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!

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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! SOLD IN 1 WK FOR 117% OF ASKING!

VELLORE VILLAGE!!

Amazing 3+2 Bdrm Semi Detached 2 Storey, Open Concept Living and Dining Room, Spacious Eat-In Kitchen, Granite Countertops, Ceramic Flr, Master Bdrm With Full Ensuite and Walk-in Closet, Spacious Finished Basement, Walkout To Landscaped Yard, Private Drive, Fabulous Neighbourhood, Steps To Vaughan Mills Mall, Canada’s Wonderland, Schools, Transit & Future subway! Close to all Amenities! Only $630,000!!

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!

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!

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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!!

DETACHED BUNGALOW

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. SOLD FAST FOR 104% OF ASKING!

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BRAMPTON RANCH BUNGALOW

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! SOLD IN 1 WK FOR 108% OF ASKING!

OCEAN CLUB CONDOMINIUMS

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!

STUNNING THISTLE TOWN 1 ½ STOREY!

LAWRENCE & KENNEDY

GEORGETOWN OPPORTUNITY!!

Over 100K in Recent Renos! Highly Desirable Enclave, Large 40 x 150 Ft Lot with Private Fenced Yard, Many Updates Including Kitchen, Baths, Plumbing/Electrical, Floors, Roof, Furnace, A/C, Stone Patio and Shed. Close to Malls, Schools and 401! A Rare Find with Future Growth Potential! Only $519,000!

Detached 3 Bedroom Bungalow, Updated Maple Kitchen, Open Concept Living & Dining Room, Crown Moulding, Separate Side Entrance to Basement, Landscaped Large Backyard, Large Deck, Shed, Long Private Drive, Fabulous Opportunity! Only $499,900!

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!!

METRO PLACE CONDO!

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!

Stunning Huge 3 Bdrm Unit, One of the Largest in the Building, Loaded with Upgrades including Modern Kitchen, New Bathrooms, Laminate Floors, 800 Series Doors, Huge Master with Walk-in Closet & Ensuite, Upgraded Amenities, Maintenance Includes Heat/Hydro + VIP Cable, Close to 401, GO Station, New UP (Union – Pearson) Train! Only $249,000!

Beautiful South-Facing 1 + 1 Bedroom, 2 Bath Luxury Condo Located At ‘Metro Place’ Just Steps To Sheppard Subway Station!! Spacious And Bright Layout Features 9’ Ceilings, Open Concept Kitchen & Living Area, Granite Counters, Separate Den, Large Master Bedroom W/ 4 Pc Ensuite. Includes Many Upgrades, Oversized Parking Spot, 24 Hour Concierge And All Amenities. An Absolute Must See, Only $329,900!!

OVERLOOKING HUMBER RIVER!

AqUA AT HARBOURFRONT!!

Fabulous Harbourfront Condo Located At Monarch-Built ‘Aqua’!! Spacious And Very Bright 1 + 1 Corner Layout Features An Open Concept Kitchen & Living Area, Separate Den W/ Gorgeous Waterfront View, Large Master Bedroom W/ Oversized W/I Closet. Enjoy The Incredible 360 Degree Rooftop Terrace Or Stroll Along The Harbourfront Anytime. Amazing Location W/ All Conveniences Located Just Steps To Your Front Door! Includes Parking Spot. Hurry – Won’t Last Long!! Only $399,900!!

ERIN MILLS CONDO OPPORTUNITY

Rare Ground Floor 1+1 Den in Mississauga, Newer Condo, Large Den could be 2nd Bdrm ,Walkout to Lovely Terrace Facing Grassy Area, Low Maintenance, Fabulous Amenities, Comes with Parking & Locker! Steps to Erin Mills Town Centre, New GO Station, Great Schools and Parks, Super Value! Only $245,000!

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, January 21, 2016

Home SellinG SyStem

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 21, 2016 |

community

Dr. Stanley Zlotkin of SickKids Hospital awarded province’s highest official honour JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Dr. Stanley Zlotkin’s work in ensuring children around the world get the proper nutrition has earned him top honours here in Ontario. Zlotkin, who serves as chief of the Hospital for Sick Children’s (SickKids) Centre for Global Child Health, has spent the better part of two decades developing and then implementing the Sprinkles Global Health Initiative, which sees packets of highly-fortified powders sent to regions where children often face malnutrition. With a background in nutrition and paediatrics, he has managed to forge partnerships that see the sprinkles distributed in areas where diets are limited. “In a lot of places, children’s first foods are limited to whatever’s available locally,” he said. “That could be wheat or corn or rice-based foods, which are fine for some of the child’s needs but which contain an inadequate amount of minerals and vitamins.” He noted that in Canada, children most often have balanced diets. Store-bought baby food here is typically highly fortified with additional nutrients to ensure all dietary needs are met. The Sprinkles Global Health Initiative allows for home fortification, with parents in

Dr. Stanley Zlotkin

developing regions able to sprinkle the fortified powder onto whatever food is available in their region – a process known as home fortification. The powders have no taste and come in packets that look like artificial sweetener pouches. “It doesn’t change the colour, taste or texture of the food, and research over the past 10 years has shown that it’s something parents will use and babies respond well to,” Zlotkin said. The Sprinkles program helps counter some of the most common nutritional deficiencies, with millions of children in 60 countries worldwide benefiting from the initiative. One of the major issues the program combats is iron deficiency, which affects hundreds of millions of children worldwide. Iron deficiency leads to iron-deficient anemia, which impedes cognitive and physical development.

Other essential nutrients in the packets include vitamin D to combat rickets in areas where there is little sunlight and B vitamins, which help with nervous system development and muscle function. “There are different needs in different parts of the world,” Zlotkin said. “We have fairly significant distribution in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia. We have programs in Sri Lanka, huge programs in Bangladesh and Pakistan and we’ve just started a big program in Myanmar, where we’ll be sending 30 million sachets.” Zlotkin, a downtown Toronto resident, noted that developing the Sprinkles program at SickKids was just one step in ensuring its rollout. “You have to come up with partnerships with organizations on the ground (in regions where the initiative is being implemented,)” he said. “UNICEF has taken a big interest in the diets and nutrition of children, and both UNICEF and the UN were quick to take up the concept of home fortification.” For his work in helping ensure children’s nutritional needs are met around the world, Zlotkin was recently a w a rd e d t h e O rd e r o f Ontario.

For more information on the Sprinkles Global Health Initiative, visit www.sghi.org

Order of Ontario recipients Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, also announced the following new appointments from Toronto to the Order of Ontario. The ceremony was held Jan. 20. Isabel Bassett, East York Former Ontario Cabinet Minister and MPP for St. Paul's She has served the people of Ontario throughout her career, first as high school teacher, and then as journalist, writer, broadcaster and member of the Ontario Legislature--all of which made her well-suited for the role of Chair and CEO of TVOntario. Gordon Cressy, Toronto Former politician, public servant, humanitarian, mentor and youth advocate He has orchestrated numerous fundraising and public awareness campaigns for youth, including Canadian Tire's JumpStart program and The Learning Partnership's Take Our Kids to Work Day. Robert Fowler, Toronto Critical care physician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Associate Professor of Medicine and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Toronto He was a clinical lead for the World Health Organization during the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa and also played a vital role in managing the SARS crisis in Toronto in 2003. Herbert Gaisano, Toronto Professor and researcher at the University of Toronto's faculty of medicine and one of the world's leading gastroenterologists He has dedicated his work to the fight against diabetes by exploring the complexities of this pervasive illness and advancement of new treatment strategies. Beverley Gordon, Toronto Founding CEO of The Safehaven Project for Community Living Safehaven provides innovative respite and residential care for hundreds of Ontario children living with severe disabilities. Source: http://bit.ly/OrderOntario

Richard Gosling, North York Community leader and outspoken youth advocate He is the founder and president of the Toronto Children's Breakfast Club, which serves over 5,000 meals each week to children across the GTA. He has developed support programs for youth in detention centres and is the founder and president of the Second Chance Scholarship Foundation, which provides financial support for post-secondary education to at-risk youth. Hon. Stephen Goudge, Toronto Former judge in the Court of Appeal for Ontario He served as Commissioner for the Public Inquiry into Pediatric Forensic Pathology. This led to a fundamental restructuring of the delivery of forensic pathology services in Ontario. Anton Kuerti, Toronto World-renowned concert pianist and composer who has been called one of the greatest pianists of the 20th Century He has performed for audiences and recorded with conductors in nearly 50 countries around the world and over 150 locales in Canada. Rita Letendre, Toronto Painter, muralist and printmaker The National Gallery of Canada named her one of the most important abstract painters in the country. Her work has been extensively exhibited in galleries across Canada and around the world, influencing the work of a new generation of artists. Julian Nedzelski, Toronto Highly respected ear, nose and throat specialist and head and neck surgeon at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and a pioneer of cochlear implants in Ontario He played a key role in the formation of the Ontario Cochlear Implantation Program, giving the gift of sound to thousands of people who believed they would never hear again.

Social Planning Toronto seeks input Social Planning Toronto (SPT) is set to host a series of four community meetings this month to discuss its future direction and priorities. “We all know that social planning is important to the future of the city and the well-being of its residents. We also know that the city is changing,” organizers from SPT said in a statement. The organization’s mission includes a commitment to “building a civic society in which diversity, equity, social and economic jus-

tice, interdependence and active civic participation are central to all aspects of life.” “What does this mean for SPT? What do we want to change? What impact do we want to have? What should we focus on in the next five years? How should we do our work?” the organization asked. Residents from across Toronto are invited to attend one of four meetings the organization is holding to solicit local thoughts and ideas about its planning process for the

Sculptedbuzz wants your shoes to donate to Soles 4 Souls Canada

next five years. The downtown meeting takes place Monday, Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at College Street United Church, 454 College St. at Bathurst Street Register at https://downtowncommunityconsultation.eventbrite. ca For questions about the upcoming meetings, contact Caryl Arundel at carundel@sympatico.ca

If you’ve got a closet full of shoes and no desire to wear them you’re in luck. Sculptedbuzz is hosting a Bare Your Sole Party, a shoe fundraiser that will donate unwanted shoes to those in need through Soles 4 Souls Canada. Just bring the unwanted pairs of gently used or new shoes to The Melody Bar at the Gladstone

For more information about Social Planning Toronto, visit www.socialplanningtoronto.org/about-us

Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., Sunday, Jan. 24 from 7 to 11 p.m. If you love the shoes you own, you can always bring a cash donation. There will be live music and a raffle featuring prizes from local businesses. If attendees bring more than three pairs of shoes, tickets are free. Otherwise early bird tickets cost $10. General tickets cost $15 and tickets at the door are $20. To purchase tickets or to make a donation visit, https://goo.gl/fNHgdO

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All Eligible Services will be conducted in strict accordance with the Oil Change and Tire Rotation Plan outline in the Agreement Booklet for the Eligible Vehicle. The service period (“Service Period”) will commence on the purchase or lease transaction date (“Transaction Date”) and will expire on the earlier of: (i) the date on which the maximum number of Service Visits has been reached; (ii) 36 months from the Transaction Date; or (ii) when the Eligible Vehicle has reached 48,000 kilometers. All Eligible Services must be completed during the Service Period, otherwise they will be forfeited. The Offer may be upgraded to use premium oil at the recipient’s expense. The Eligible Services are not designed to meet all requirements and specifications necessary to maintain the Eligible Vehicle. To see the complete list of maintenance necessary, please refer to the Service Maintenance Guide. 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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 21, 2016

community

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 21, 2016 |

arts & entertainment

Musical theatre production is 100 per cent improvised Audience dictates how One Night Only musical theatre production will be performed JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Staging a musical theatre production with all its elements and components is a challenge at the best of times. That’s even more so when none of the performers involved – the actors or the orchestra – have any idea how the play will unfold. But that’s exactly the point, however, with Annex resident Alan Kliffer’s upcoming improvised musical One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written.

Storytellers and singers

Two years in the making Kliffer has spent more than two years refining the concept, finding the perfect cast and orchestra and conducting workshops to ensure they mesh well. While there is one song off the top that explains the concept, after that, the performers are operating without a safety net. “After that song, it’s fully 100 per cent improvised,” Kliffer said. “The actors will get a suggestion

from a short, 45-minute themed work into a more open concept two-act piece. To ensure its success, Kliffer has enlisted a cast of performers known to Toronto improv aficionados, including Carly Heffernan, Reid Janisse, Jan Caruana and others.

Photo/COURTESY

Alan Kliffer, the creator of One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written.

for a location and then they’re off, coming back to the audience for suggestions throughout the play. “We have that first scene and then it’s ‘OK, let’s create a musical.’ You can come back again and again

and again and you’ll always see a brand new show.” The show’s original concept – early on, it was titled Golden Ages – revolved around different theatrical eras. Since then, it has morphed

“The idea is to get the show to resemble a fully written and scripted musical, so we need talented improvisers who are great at telling a story, but who are also talented singers and lyricists,” he said. Making sure everything blends together seamlessly requires full cooperation between the actors, musicians and stagehands. “They all play a part in making sure the magic happens,” Kliffer said. “The actors know where the lights hit the stage and there’s always an evil villain and an ingénue or romantic lead, but apart from that, it’s all up to the audience to form who the characters are and where they are.” As the show ’s creator, the Winnipeg-born Kliffer could hardly be happier with the results through

various workshops and “stumblethroughs.” Even after a successful test run at the Factory Theatre last September and countless subsequent workshops, however, he acknowledged that there is never a sense that everything is completely under control. “It’s always nerve-wracking,” he said. “Every single workshop has been nerve-wracking, but it always works out and the people in the audience (at the preview) enjoyed themselves every bit as much as we do. People told us after the show that their faces hurt from smiling.” Adding to the show’s improvisational feel, Art-On-The-Spot will create visual art based on the audience’s suggestions at performances during One Night Only’s upcoming run, with the unique paintings available for auction to audience members. One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written will run from Jan. 27 to Feb. 14 at the Factory Theatre Mainspace.

For more information about One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written, visit www.onenightonlymusical.com

YMCA Sprott House to provide 25 beds for LGBTQ2S youth >>>from page 1 to make sure this could happen,” he said. “We knew that LGBTQ2S young people are much more likely to be at risk of suicide and other kinds of mental health difficulties, and just to say ‘they’re going to seek shelter and find shelter and get adequate support in places like the existing shelter system is not an adequate answer.” Indeed, many LGBTQ2S youth avoid the traditional shelter system due to fears of violence and mistreatment. “For over two decades, we have known that LGBTQ2S youth are overrepresented amongst the homeless youth population, making up 25 to 40 per cent of homeless youth, but that they are underrepresented in homeless shelters due to widespread homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination,” said Dr. Alex Abramovich, a researcher at CAMH, adding homeless LGBTQ2S youth often feel safer living on the streets

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to stay while helping them to transition to more stable and permanent housing. It serves as another pillar of the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s “Strong Start, Great Future” program. Diane Sinhuber, chair of the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s board of directors, noted the new housing program will ensure

Toronto “will be home to the strongest, safest, healthiest children, teens and young adults.” The YMCA has been working to transition current Sprott House residents to new housing in the lead-up to the implementation of Sprott House’s new mandate. The Annex Residents Association (ARA) was sup-

portive of the project, said ARA chair David Harrison. “We firmly believe that there should be a home and a place for everyone,” he said. YMCA Sprott House is currently taking applications for residents.

Those interested can find an application at www.ymcagta. org/sprott

3rd Staff photo/JUSTIN SKINNER

ANNUAL

Dr. Alex Abramovich of CAMH speaks at announcement regarding Sprott House on Thursday, Jan. 14. The YMCA-run shelter has shifted its focus and is set to begin catering exclusively to homeless LGBTQ2S youth.

than in shelters. Ab ra m ov i c h p o i n t e d out LGBTQ2S youth are at increased risk of physical and sexual exploitation, more likely to engage in substance use, more likely to have mental health concerns, and at higher risk of suicide. “Without proper services

T O R O N T O ’ S

and programs in place, LGBTQ2S youth have nowhere to go,” he said. “It breaks my heart when I interview young people and they share stories about how they are not safe in shelters.” YMCA Sprott House will provide 25 beds for LGBTQ2S youth aged 16 to 24, providing them with a safe place

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