The City Centre Mirror March 31' 2016 by The City Centre Mirror

Serving THE ANNEX, MIDTOWN, ROSEDALE, CABBAGETOWN and THE DOWNTOWN CORE National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Toronto

APRIL 3 - 13, 2016 www.PassoverFoodDrive.org 416.633.5100

thurs march 31, 2016 www.citycentremirror.com

inside David Nickle is on the city hall beat / 4

Your weekly events listing /6

photos St. Francis of Assisi church staged Good Friday procession / 3

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TOcore study aims to shape downtown growth

talented terrier

Gearing up for Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer

Cyclist aims to pass the $500,000 milestone JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com

JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com With condo towers popping up at a breakneck pace throughout the downtown core, Toronto staff is working on a plan to help ensure the city is prepared to accommodate its booming growth. The TOcore study, looking at the area bounded by Bathurst Street to the west, the Don Valley to the east, Rosedale Valley Road and the CPR tracks to the north and Lake Ontario to the south, aims to ensure growth in the core does not hinder the downtown core’s livability. “The last decade has seen unprecedented growth in the area,” said Gregg Lintern of the City of Toronto’s planning department. “Over the last four or five years, as condos have continued to be built and occupied, we’ve added the population of a couple of Collingwoods to downtown.” The statistics regarding the downtown core’s growth are eyepopping. The area takes up three per cent of Toronto’s land area, but accounts for more than half the city’s gross domestic product, one-third of its >>>secondary, page 11

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BELLA ON WHEELS: Bella, a Boston terrier, rides her scooter down a ramp during the Ultimutts Stunt Dog Show Saturday at Purina about the PawsWay pet centre on i Learn Queens Quay West at www.pawsway.ca PawsWay.

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When downtown Toronto resident Lance Donnelly hops on his bike for his eighth Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer this year, he’ll do so in memory of both his parents. Donnelly’s mother and father died as a result of the illness, though not in the way most would think. “My mom was diagnosed in October 2008 with pancreatic cancer,” he said, recounting he did his first Ride to Conquer Cancer while she was undergoing treatment. “She had surger y around Christmastime in 2008, so she was healthy enough to see me cross the finish line. Then, a couple of weeks later, my parents were killed in a car accident on the way when my dad was driving my mom to an appointment. “I always say cancer got both of them.” He noted that though his father was 80, he was still quite healthy, while his mother had been making an impressive recovery thanks to the treatment she was receiving. “She was quite frail, but she was >>>riding, page 5

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, March 31, 2016 |

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The average Toronto household generates 15 kilograms (33 lbs) of waste a week.

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Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work together to to reduce this.

good friday tradition: St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church hosted its annual way of the cross procession through the Little Italy neighbourhood, a representation of the path walked by Jesus as he made his way to the crucifixion. The procession, in its 54th year, was comprised of 6,000 participants, 10 floats, and three bands.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: Waste Diversion in Houses, Apartments, and Condos Monday April 4. 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Presentation and Workshop at 7:00 p.m. Central YMCA, Auditorium, 20 Grosvenor St. (Wellesley Station)

Clockwise from top: Roman soldiers torment Jesus along the route of the Good Friday procession in Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Little Italy district; participants in costume along the route; a woman displays a shroud; an icon of Jesus is borne along the route; participants march along the route. Photos/EDUARDO LIMA

Diversion Opportunities: Businesses and DIY Home Renovators Thursday, April 7. 2:00-3:30 p.m. WEBINAR: www.toronto.ca/wastestrategy Waste Recovery and Residual: How to Handle Remaining Materials Tuesday, April 12. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Presentation at 7:00 p.m. City Hall, Committee Room 2, 100 Queen St. W. (Osgoode Station) LIVE WEBCAST: www.toronto.ca/wastestrategy * Special accommodation and translation services can be made available if requested 5 days before public meeting.

Public Meeting RSVP: wastestrategy.eventbrite.ca More information:

toronto.ca/wastestrategy

wastestrategy@toronto.ca | 416-392-3760 | #TOWasteStrategy

For more community photos and local news, visit www. citycentremirror.com

Ryerson students awarded for helping improve city and the lives of others JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Even as they devote hours upon hours to their studies in preparation for their future, many Ryerson University students are hard at work improving the lives of others today. The university is honouring a group of exceptional students through its new Student Experience Awards, recognizing them for extracurricular efforts. Fourth-year environment and urban sustainability student Jen Fischer, who founded Soul Roots, won the Dennis Mock Award and said she was caught off guard by the honour. “There are a lot of great people out there doing great things,” she said. Fischer, who lives in Parkdale, is working on a project that would see contaminated vacant lots converted into crop gardens. While she said she is hoping to get the project up and running as quickly as possible, she noted there are obstacles to overcome. “There are these lots that mostly sit vacant, and mostly in poor neighbourhoods, but there’s legislation in the way (that prohibits use of the contaminated land),” she said. “We’re working with Greenest City to do a test pilot of the project in the Milky Way garden (near Dufferin and Queen).” In the meantime, Fischer has helped to spearhead an innovative composting program on the Ryerson campus that will help to divert large amounts of waste from landfill sites. “It’s a closed-loop composting system on campus – a unique kind of vermicompost prototype that allows highyield composting – and at the end you wind up with a prod-

Photos/COURTESY

Jen Fischer, top, earned a Student Experience Award for her concept of using vacant lots to plant crops. Above left, Josh Lamers took home an award for his work promoting social justice. Above right, Kyra Vitko was honoured for her efforts to improve the lives of children diagnosed with cancer.

uct you can sell,” she said. Kyra Vitko, a second-year nursing student, is the inaugural recipient of the Michelle Monkhouse Award, earning the honour for her work in improving the lives of children diagnosed with cancer. A survivor of the illness herself – Vitko was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma at the age of 13 – she decided back then she would dedicate herself to helping others. “In the middle of treatment, very early on, I said to my doctor, ‘If I get through this, I want to be on the other side of the bed helping other

people get through this,’” she recalled. Vitko has volunteered for years at Camp Oochigeas, a special camp for children with cancer, running arts and empowerment programs. She also regularly visits The Hospital for Sick Children, doing activities and having one-on-one chats with youngsters who have been diagnosed with cancer. “We talk about real things – things the doctors and nurses might not talk about,” she said. “School problems, social problems, sharing stories. They’re very raw conversations that

delve into the side of the illness that isn’t confined to the hospital.” Second-year social work student Josh Lamers is the first recipient of the Angela Ross award for his work in promoting social justice, speaking out for people with disabilities and taking part in anti-homophobia programs at schools. “I’ve been volunteering at the provincial advocacy office, advocating alongside people with disabilities,” he said, noting he grew up with a brother who had been diagnosed with autism. “We grew up in a small town north of Barrie and the services there (for people with disabilities) were lacking,” Lamers said. “There were times at school when teachers and faculty members would engage my brother in behaviour that would get him sent home or suspended.” Lamers also volunteers with Planned Parenthood’s Teens Educating and Confronting Ho m o p h o b i a ( T E AC H ) program, which dispels stereotypes about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community to young people in schools. Importantly, TEACH is not subject to the same scrutiny as the recently amended sexual education curriculum, which some parents opposed. “We’re not considered sex ed, we’re considered equity training,” he said. Fischer, Vitko and Lamers were among more than 20 award recipients recognized for volunteer and extracurricular work in a variety of fields. The awards were handed out at a special ceremony Tuesday. For more information on the awards, visit http://studentlife.ryerson.ca/awards/ award-recipients

Nominations open for vacant school board trustee seat Nominations are open for a vacant Toronto District School Board trustee position in Toronto Centre-Rosedale (TDSB Ward 14), with a byelection slated for June 20. The position was formerly held by Sheila Ward, who was

Toronto Centre-Rosedale’s trustee since it was formed in 1997. Ward, who was also chair of the Toronto District School Board from 2003 to 2007, died in February. Whoever wins the byelection to serve as Toronto

Centre-Rosedale trustee will have two years left in their tenure before the next municipal election. Nominations are open to Canadian citizens 18 years of age or older who are public school supporters and who

are legally allowed to vote and hold office. Those interested in the position must file nomination papers by Thursday, May 5 at Toronto City Hall. Visit www.toronto.ca/elections/by-election or call 416338-1111.

a final farewell ROB FORD: 1969 – 2016 For complete coverage of Ford’s funeral, photos and memories, visit us online www.insidetoronto.com/toronto-topics/6401089-rob-ford-dead-at-46

Teen sets out to study Canada’s war effort from the battlefield St. Clement’s student travelling to Europe after winning Vimy Pilgrimage Award JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com At the tender age of 17, St. Clement’s School student Sally O’Keeffe is getting set for the journey of a lifetime. The Grade 12 student has been named as one of 20 recipients of the Vimy Pilgrimage Award, presented by The Vimy Foundation. Award winners will travel overseas to visit Vimy, France and other notable First World War battle sites where Canadians made their mark. Despite her young age, O’Keeffe is a bit of a history buff, and served as president of her school’s history club for three years. She also worked at Fort York last summer as a re-enactor and has seen her interest in Canada’s military history grow throughout her teen years. “A couple of years ago, we had a (school) project where we were given a list of a few soldiers from World War One and we had to research their backstories,” she said. “One soldier in particular had lived on someone’s street in my class, really close to the school. It was so eye-opening to have something so close to the school and to think in that house, a young boy went and fought in the war.” While at Fort York, O’Keeffe re-enacted scenes from the War of 1812 and had a chance to try on replica Canadian military uniforms and equipment. “You got to learn how much stuff they carried – it was pretty heavy,” she said. She is looking forward to her trip to France and Belgium, where she and her

fellow winners will visit historic sites such as Vimy Ridge, Flanders Fields, and Ypres, along with museums. That, she said, will help her better share the experiences of the soldiers who fought in the First World War. While her Grade 10 history class spent a fair amount of time studying Vimy Ridge, those lessons will pale in comparison to being able to look out over the battlefield.

“

When you’re in the trenches, you get a bit more sense of what the soldiers were looking at. – Sally O’Keeffe

“ When you’re in the trenches, you get a bit more of a sense of what the soldiers were looking at,” she said. “It’s easier to explain something when you know more about it, and I’m not risking my life (like the soldiers in the First World War), but I’m not just sitting in a classroom reading or hearing about it.” The Battle of Vimy Ridge is often cited as a landmark battle for Canada on the global scene. The Canadian Corps was able to reclaim the land from the German Sixth Army in a bloody battle that saw more than 10,000 soldiers killed or seriously wounded. “In my opinion, ( Vimy Ridge) was one of the most important Canadian contributions to the First World War,” O’Keeffe said. She and her fellow Vimy Pilgrimage Award recipients will head to Europe on Sunday, April 3, returning on April 11.

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, March 31, 2016

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, March 31, 2016 |

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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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oney for transit, and possibly more for housing. It was welcome news from Ottawa last week, when newly minted Finance Minister Bill Morneau released the federal Liberal government’s first budget, and it included those two things. Among other things, the budget pledged $3.4 billion in public transit investment across the country over the next three years. And an $11.9 billion infrastructure plan will allow for federal funding of housing. Both of these announcements are good for Toronto, which needs major investment in both areas, and has for many years. With the exception of the late former mayor Rob Ford, everyone occupying the Toronto mayor’s office has agreed that the federal government needs to engage in the direct financing of municipal needs – housing and transit in particular. But mayoral advocacy has our view only ever achieved partial success, and often none at all. Federal Liberals Count this year’s budget as partial win. make good on another Toronto stands to get a sizeportion of the federal transit, housing able transit funding, as the allocation will be based on ridership and the Toronto Transit Commission’s ridership is formidable. But 26 per cent – the share that Mayor John Tory’s office estimates will come to the city on that basis – is still only $884 million. The Toronto Transit Commission’s state of good repair backlog currently sits at $2.7 billion. Similarly, it’s hard to imagine federal infrastructure money, which will be divided more equitably, will get Toronto very far in completing the $2.6 billion repair backlog in Toronto Community Housing. Will there be more money in future budgets? One might hope so, particularly as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Morneau have signalled that they’re not going to be shy when it comes to running deficits higher than usual. But we shouldn’t confuse hope with expectation, and Toronto needs to accept that it will be, at least to some degree, on its own – with maybe, just maybe, a bit more help from the cash-strapped provincial government. That means that later this year, when Toronto considers new revenue tools, councillors will need to look very seriously at the options. We’ve been given a boost. But we’ll have to climb the rest of the way ourselves.

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Trying to find forgiveness for Rob Ford I’ve been thinking a lot about forgiveness lately. Generally, the act of forgiving is a healthy one. Carrying grudges, nursing old wounds, maintaining rifts is bad for the soul if you believe in that kind of thing, and for the digestion whether you do or don’t. It feels good to let go. But in the case of Robert Bruce Ford, interred yesterday after his untimely and awful death at age 46, forgiveness becomes… problematic. It’s not that he didn’t beg our forgiveness. When he was still mayor, before cancer struck him, Rob Ford offered a fulsome apology for the behaviour he exhibited while under the influence of his alcohol addiction. He went so far as to apologize on television, in the summer of 2014, where he accepted “full responsibility” for his “poor judgement.” During that time, he’d been recorded saying an awful thing about his mayoral rival, city councillor Karen Stintz,

david nickle the city and he apologized for that. With that done, of course, he launched into an eyebrowraising stump speech for his bid to be re-elected mayor then left without taking questions. But still: an apology is an apology, and it’s only good manners to accept it. And even if he hadn’t apologized, there is still the generosity we all feel toward the terminally ill. Imagining ourselves at a dying man’s bedside, a long-held grudge becomes an unimaginable burden. And so it feels good for us to absolve: to recall Rob Ford as a good bloke after all, whose sins were egged on by the demon rum; to conclude that he was simply the mayor that loved Toronto too much; and that through it all, returning phone calls and posing for selfies, coaching grateful high school footballers and hobnobbing with celebrities,

he somehow did great good for the city. That this doesn’t square with the historical record is problematic. Indeed, it is significantly problematic, as our consideration of the Ford years is not simply a matter of the historical record. In addition to a widow and two children, Ford leaves behind a political machine, in the form of Ford Nation: tens of thousands of people who supported him unquestioningly, and a political heir, in the form of his brother, former councillor Doug Ford. Earlier this week, Doug was front-and-centre at the visitation that the family requested be held in the Toronto City Hall rotunda, greeting wellwishers, embracing supporters, and posing for the selfies with those in line to visit his brother Rob’s flag-draped casket. We all grieve in different ways, but to onlookers, it seemed an awful lot like campaigning. And in the context of campaigning, the narrative

of what really happened between 2010 and 2014 in the mayor’s office matters. The truth of that is that Rob Ford stepped off a wellrun campaign and into a job that he bungled from nearly the beginning. At some point, booze and other drugs overtook him and made things worse. But there is little evidence that he loved Toronto enough, never mind too much, and plenty of evidence that drunk or sober, he despised significant elements of the city. His accomplishments – abolishing the car tax and the contracting out of some garbage collection – are few. The damage he did – to public transit, to the simple level of discourse – is considerable. And for that, and many other things, he never once apologized. As good as it might feel to grant, forgiveness is really not an option. David Nickle is Metroland Media Toronto’s city hall reporter. His column runs every Thursday. Reach him on Twitter: @DavidNickle

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Riding for eighth year in memory of parents >>>from page 1 bouncing back,” he recalled. “It was really special to see her rally around to the point where she could see me finish (his first Ride to Conquer Cancer).” Donnelly, a personal trainer by trade, hadn’t ridden a bike in years before his mother received her diagnosis. When he heard, he decided to do what he could to help support cancer research, which meant buying a bike and starting with a training regimen. The year following his parents’ fatal accident, Donnelly got more family members involved, creating a team where they could use the ride as a way to grieve and remember those they lost. Shortly thereafter, however, Donnelly got more into the racing side of the cycling world, and he now rides with a more competitive team. His teams have raised close to $500,000 for cancer research, a target they will likely surpass this year. “Years ago, when I was first starting out with the ride, I told my clients I wanted to raise half a million before I stopped riding,” he said. “Now that we’re there, I’ll probably bump that to a million.” Donnelly said the ride helps the fight against cancer in two ways, both by raising funds for Princess Margaret Hospital – a world-leading health care facility in the fight against cancer – and by promoting healthy living.

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Lance Donnelly is participating in the 2016 Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer in memory of his parents, who were killed in a car accident on the way to one of his mother’s chemotherapy appointments.

The ride itself, he said, is an emotional whirlwind as participants make the 200-kilometre bike trek to Niagara Falls. “People tell stories and talk about their own experiences, their own losses and their own battles,” he said. “When you start out, you have 5,000 people with tears in their eyes, but then it becomes a much more fun experience and a celebration

of life. “Two days later you reach the finish line and I still cry at the end because I remember why I’m there.” This year’s ride will take place on June 11 and 12, and organizers are wrapping up their Team Up Challenge to boost participation. For more information about the event, to register, or to pledge a participant, visit www.to16.conquercancer.ca

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Share your wishes for green space coming to Toronto’s Wellesley Street Situated on Monday land formerly owned by the Province of O n t a r i o, i t was secured as park space when the community downtown mobilized to keep the area green. The City of Toronto’s d e p a r t m e n t o f Pa r k s , Forestry and Recreation is

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A new condo tower slated for the downtown core will see 742 units spread over 60 storeys, but it’s what’s at the foot of the building that has most in the area excited about the development. The site, at 11 Wellesley St. W., is set to feature a 1.5-acre public park, a new infusion of green space that’s all too rare in downtown Toronto.

now hoping to engage that same community in a discussion to determine the park’s features. A meeting will be held at St. Joseph College School, 74 Wellesley St. W., to give the public a chance to weigh in on what they would like to see in the green space. The meeting will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday.

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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, March 31, 2016

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, March 31, 2016 |

community calendar

Are you an Internationally Educated Nurse who wants to work in Ontario? CARE Centre can help you pass exams and become licensed to practice! We hold regular free information sessions at these locations: Toronto: 620 Wilson Avenue, Suite 200 Brampton: 21 Nelson St West (Suite #1a, Skills for Change) Pre-register on our website at

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it’s happening

featured

w Friday, April 1

w April 8 to 24

w Saturday, April 2

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

Toronto Yoga Conference Show WHEN: Show runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday WHERE: Metro Toronto Convention Centre - North Building, 255 Front St. W. CONTACT: 905-4049642, www.theyogaconference. com COST: $15 (Conference, seminars, workshops (extra) and exhibitors. Pet Loss Support Group WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: Purina PawsWay Event Space, 245 Queens Quay W. CONTACT: pawswaypetlossgroup@gmail.com COST: Free

w Sunday, April 3

Old Book and Paper Show WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St. CONTACT: www.antiqueshowscanada.com COST: $10 This show and sale covers every conceivable type of vintage printed material.

This month, we’re celebrating those who’ve celebrated us. A heartfelt thanks to all the children and families who support SickKids by hosting their parties through ECHOage. To date we’ve raised $1 Million and given children the best gift of all: the gift of a healthier future. And ensured children, like Gabriel, will put on smiles and party hats for many birthdays to come.

Hart House Chorus Spring Concert WHEN: 4 to 5 p.m. WHERE: The Great Hall, Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle CONTACT: http:// harthouse.ca/chorus COST: Free Noche Oscura: Dark Night of the Soul by O. Gjeilo and Mass in Time of War by J. Haydn.

w Tuesday, April 5

An Evening with Margaret MacMillan WHEN: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. WHERE: Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor St. W. CONTACT: togogograns@gmail.com COST: $30, students $15 Togogo Grandmothers present an evening with Margaret MacMillan, historian and author. Proceeds to The Grandmothers Campaign of The Stephen Lewis

For over eight proud years, SickKids and ECHOage have been partners, enabling kids, families and friends to choose SickKids as their charity of choice.

Metroland Media Toronto is proud to be a media partner for SickKids.

Foundation. Tickets online at Eventbrite.ca or at the door.

w Wednesday, April 6

Psychic Fair WHEN: 4 to 8 p.m. WHERE: Central Eglinton Community Centre, 160 Eglinton Ave. E. CONTACT: Nancy Lyon, 416392-0511, ext. 0 COST: Free admission; exhibitors charge Palm reading, tarot cards, fortunes told. Refreshments at the Clairvoyant Cafe, door prizes and more.

w Thursday, April 7

Exploring Concussions WHEN: 8:30 a.m. to noon WHERE: Advocate’s Society, 250 Yonge St., Suite 2700 CONTACT: Meri Perra, 416-8301485, info@bist.ca COST: Free Find out about concussion facts, myths and the latest research. Adult Child Support Group WHEN: 5:30 to 7 p.m. WHERE: Alzheimer Society of Toronto, 20 Eglinton Ave. W., Suite 1600 CONTACT: Remy Sookhai, 416640-6317, rsookhai@alzheimertoronto.org COST: Free Group members will decide on the focus and direction of this four-week group, and both practical and emotional needs will be explored. UP TO

Off-Leash Safety Course WHEN: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Purina PawsWay Event Space, 245 Queens Quay W. CONTACT: info@pawsway.ca COST: $10.75 per family Learn about keeping your dog safe in an off leash environment. Toronto Silent Film Festival WHEN: 7 to 9:15 p.m. WHERE: Royal Cinema, 608 College St. CONTACT: www.torontosilentfilmfestival.com COST: $15 Opening night featuring Colleen Moore, as well as a screening of ‘Their First Misunderstanding’, a once-lost Mary Pickford short. The festival runs April 7 to 12.

w Friday, April 8

Black & White with a Touch of Pink Fundraising Gala WHEN: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. WHERE: Berkeley Church/ Field House, 315 Queen St. E. CONTACT: http://bit.ly/BlackandWhite2016 COST: $90 Fundraising gala in support of young women battling cancer.

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Here’s to you, our ECHOage family – hip, hip hooray! ECHOage your party in support of SickKids at http://echoage.com/ charities/sickkids

TIFF Kids International Film Festival WHEN: 11 a.m. WHERE: TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W. CONTACT: 416-599-8433 COST: $9 to $13 TIFF Kids is one of the largest children’s film festivals in the world. Presented each April, the festival offers a diverse slate of programming from Canada and around the globe, using the power of film not just to entertain children and parents, but to foster new ideas about the complex issues facing young people today.

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Volunteer Toronto’s dance marathon steps up for SickKids JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Volunteering offers plenty of rewards, but rarely has it been more fun than at Volunteer Toronto’s upcoming dance marathon. The event aims to bring out teens from the GTA to participate in a four-hour dance party to raise funds for the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Part of the ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge, organizers are hoping to host more than 200 students from schools throughout the GTA. “ChangeTheWorld has been around for a few years now and it’s a campaign that looks to get young people engaged in volunteering,” said Ainsley Kendrick of Volunteer Toronto. “Whether it’s young

people who haven’t started volunteering yet or those who already have, we’re hoping to get everyone to dedicate three hours or more between April 10 and May 23.” The dance marathon will benefit SickKids’ Miracle Network, with funds going toward buying medical equipment, funding research, and covering the costs of training programs for medical profes-

sionals. While the dance marathon will last four hours, participants don’t have to cut a rug the whole time. There will presentations from families who have benefited from the top-notch care at SickKids, along with other activities, and youth in attendance can choose to simply mix and mingle. “There’s no schedule once

they get to the dance. They just have to raise $30 for SickKids through pledges and then come out and have a good time,” Kendrick said. Participating students will also be invited to make thank you cards for SickKids nurses to recognize them for the important and sometimes life-saving work they do. When students leave, they will get a certificate noting they

have logged three volunteer hours. The Children’s Miracle Dance Marathon will take place in the George Brown College gym at 200 King St. E. from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Participants are asked to arrive by 3:30 p.m. to register.

For more information, visit www.volunteertoronto.ca/ page/DanceMarathon

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Lease* or Finance† rates as low as

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PLUS CHOOSE FROM 3 GREAT OFFERS

No-Charge

EXTENDED WARRANTY

OR 1

MONTHLY PAYMENTS PAYMENTS ON US

Up to

1,500

BONUS CASH

ON PATHFINDER PATHFINDER MODELS

2016 NISSAN ROGUE® MONTHLY LEASE FROM $283 WITH $0 DOWN ≠

THAT'S LIKE PAYING ONLY

≈

WEEKLY

ON ROGUE S FWD

LEASE PAYMENTS INCLUDE FREIGHT AND PDE

1.99% APR FOR 60 MONTHS

STEP UP TO THE SV SPECIAL EDITION FOR ONLY

When Equipped with Forward Emergency Braking

MORE PER WEEK

INCLUDES $750 MY CHOICE BONUS CASH SL AWD AWD Premium model shown shown

▲

T THE HE N NEW EW R REDESIGNED EDESIGNED 2016 NISSAN SENTRA MONTHLY MONTHLY LEASE≠ FROM

$189 WITH $0 DOWN

THAT’S THAT ’S LIKE PAYING PAYING ONLY ONLY

$ ▲

1.8 SL model shown shown

≈

WEEKLY

ON SENTRA S M6

LEASE P PAYMENTS AYMENTS INCLUDE INCL UDE FREIGHT AND PDE

2.99% APR FOR 60 MONTHS

When Equipped with Forward Emergency Braking

INCLUDES $750 MY CHOICE BONUS CASH

ALREADY DRIVING A NISSAN? OUR LOYALTY PROGRAM HAS GREAT OFFERS! • ENDS MARCH 31ST • VISIT CHOOSENISSAN.CA OR YOUR LOCAL RETAILER Offers available from March 1 - 31, 2016. ≈ Payments cannot be made on a weekly basis, for advertising purposes only. 1No-charge extended warranty is valid for up to 60 months or 100,000 km (whichever occurs first) from the warranty start date and zero (0) kilometers. Some conditions/limitations apply. The No-charge extended warranty is the Nissan Added Security Plan (“ASP”) and is administered by Nissan Canada Extended Services INC. (“NCESI”). In all provinces NCESI is the obligor. This offer includes the gold level of coverage. The offer is available on purchase lease or finance of a new 2016 Sentra, 2016 Altima, 2016 Juke, 2016 Murano // 2015 Micra, 2016 Versa Note, 2015 Sentra, 2016 Rogue // 2015 Altima, 2015 Pathfinder, 2016 Pathfinder. 2Monthly payments on us is available to customers who lease or finance a new a new 2015 Sentra, 2016 Sentra, 2015 Altima, 2016 Altima, 2016 Juke, 2016 Murano, 2015 Micra, 2016 Versa Note, 2016 Rogue, 2015 Pathfinder, 2016 Pathfinder through NCF and refers to the first two (2) monthly lease payments or first two (2) monthly finance payments. A customer’s first two monthly payments (inclusive of all taxes) will be waived, up to a maximum of $375 // $500 // $750 per month and does not include down payment or security deposits. After two months, the customer will be required to make all remaining regularly scheduled payments over the remaining term of the contract. Customers must be approved to lease or finance through NCF. Cash purchase buyers or buyers who finance outside of Nissan Finance are also not eligible for this choice. 3My Choice bonus cash $750 // $1,000 // $1,000 // $1,500 is applicable to 2016 Sentra, 2016 Altima, 2016 Juke, 2016 Murano, 2016 Rogue // 2015 Micra, 2016 Versa Note // 2015 Sentra // 2015 Altima, 2015 Pathfinder, 2016 Pathfinder which will be deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes. $750 // $1,000 // $1,000 // $1,500 consists of $500 // $ 850 // $1,000 // $1,200 NCI contribution and $250 // $150 // $0 // $300 dealer participation. *Representative monthly lease offer based on a new 2016 Rogue S FWD CVT (Y6RG16 AA00). 0% lease APR for a 24 month term equals monthly payments of $423 with $0 down payment, and $0 security deposit. first monthly payment, down payment and $0 security deposit are due at lease inception. Payments include freight and fees. lease based on a maximum of 20,000 km/year with excess charged at $0.10/km. Total lease obligation is $10,159. †Representative finance offer based on a new 2016 Rogue S FWD CVT (Y6RG16 AA00). Selling price is $26,874 financed at 0% apr equals 24 monthly payments of $1,120 monthly for a 24 month term. $0 down payment required. Cost of borrowing is $0 for a total obligation of $26,874. ≠Representative monthly lease offer based on a new 2016 Rogue S FWD CVT (Y6RG16 AA00)/2016 Rogue SV Special Edition FWD (Y6SG16 AA00)/2016 Sentra 1.8 S M6 (C4LG56 AA00). 1.99%/1.99%/2.99% lease APR for a 60/60/60 month term equals monthly payments of $283/$315/$189 with $0/$0/$0 down payment, and $0 security deposit. First monthly payment, down payment and $0 security deposit are due at lease inception. Payments include freight and fees. Lease based on a maximum of 20,000 km/year with excess charged at $0.10/km. Total lease obligation is $16,990/$18,894/$11,359. $750/$750/$750 My Choice Bonus cash included in advertised offer. $600 lease cash applicate on 2016 Sentra 1.8 S M6 (C4LG56 AA00) included in advertised offer. ▲Models shown $37,474/$24,329 Selling price for a new 2016 Rogue SL AWD Premium (Y6DG16 BK00)/ 2016 Sentra 1.8 SR CVT (C4SG16 AA00). *◆±≠▲Freight and PDE charges ($1,795/$1,600) air-conditioning levy ($100) where applicable, applicable fees (all which may vary by region), manufacturer’s rebate and dealer participation where applicable are included. License, registration, insurance and applicable taxes are extra. Offers are available on approved credit through Nissan Canada Finance for a limited time, may change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers except stackable trading dollars. Vehicles and accessories are for illustration purposes only. See your dealer or visit Nissan.ca/ Loyalty. 2016 Rogue recognized as IIHS top safety picks when equipped with Forward Emergency Braking. For more information see www.IIHS.org. See your participating Nissan retailer for complete details. ©2016 Nissan Canada Inc. and Nissan Canada Financial Services Inc. a division of Nissan Canada Inc.

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, March 31, 2016

community

10 CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, March 31, 2016 |

transit

Uber backs ridesharing rules rahul gupta TO in TRANSIT The city announced this week it is raising tickets for blocking TTC areas and other parking infractions to $150. Also covered under the new regulations: blocking sidewalks, double parking, and blocking High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes. In a statement Mayor John Tory said the new measures would reduce congestion and safety for pedestrians. accident policy changed wPolice

Toronto police will no longer dispatch officers to minor automobile accidents. The move will mean any collisions involving minor damage but not requiring medical attention will no longer require the presence of a uniformed officer. The benefits according to police are reduced traffic delays, less of a potential for a secondary collision and the easier

infractions get stiffer fines wParking

Parking your private vehicle in a designated TTC bus lane is about to become a whole lot more expensive.

Hudson’s Bay Queen street Hosts GivinG day celeBration on March 24, Hudson’s Bay at 176 yonge st. celebrated Giving day. Guests purchased $5 tickets and enjoyed discounts in the store, custom portraits, refreshments, music and a visit from the easter Bunny. Funds raised went to the Boys and Girls clubs of canada to develop educational summer programs.

RON

express buses on the road wNew

Without much fanfare, the TTC this week launched new express bus service on existing routes. As of Sunday, March 27, new express or Rocket buses were running on both Don Mills Road and Kipling Avenue. Also launched was the 186 Wilson Rocket between York Mills Station and Humber College . Rahul Gupta is Metroland Media Toronto’s transportation and infrastructure reporter. His column runs every Thursday. Reach him on Twitter: @TOinTRANSIT

TO’S ANNUAL

Clean SPRING CLEAN-

keover 20-Minute Ma d School Corporate an APRIL

ON NOW AT THE BRICK!

deployment of more specialized accident investigators for serious crashes. According to police, accident rates have risen around five per cent year-to-year making the practice of dispatching officers to fenderbenders “unsustainable”. This week the OPP also announced it has expanded the number of collision reporting centres in the GTA to eight.

NTO! O R O T , Y HE FOR IT’S TIME SPRING E M o O t S n Toro ER . CLEANING TO G E T H TO

Community s Clean-up Day APRIL

Consumer Feature

Uber is putting out the fullcourt press in support of expected new regulations governing rideshares in Toronto. The city’s Municipal Licensing and Standards department will reveal in April a new draft bylaw widely expected to formally legalize rideshare services like UberX. The new regulations would likely require Uber drivers to be licensed by the city, have commercial insurance, be subjected to background and criminal record checks and generally submit to the same kind of municipal oversight as cabbies. The bylaw must be ratified by Toronto Council, which could come as early as May’s meeting, but Uber has organized an online petition, created a web video and is encouraging customers to contact councillors directly.

23&24

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