December 27 by The City Centre Mirror

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People

Green photo win sends surprised sisters to Denmark JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com When sisters Jennifer and Kim Taylor took photos of the litter near the Don River, they had no idea it would end up taking them on the trip of a lifetime. The sisters, who grew up in East York, took the pictures as part of the Litter Less photography competition, which urged teens and youth to take photos of litter in their communities and provide creative solutions. “We always take our dog out in the Don Valley and we’ve seen the litter out there,” Jennifer said. When the Taylors were selected as two of four Canadian winners, they were treated to a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, to take part in an international mission to explore the concepts behind one of the world’s most sustainable cities. “When we entered the competition, I didn’t even know about the Copenhagen trip,” said Kim, who attends St. Joseph’s College School in downtown Toronto. “I thought ‘is this a hoax?’” While overseas, the sisters joined students from Germany, France, Romania and Montenegro in attend-

Photo/COURTESY

Kim, left, and Jennifer Taylor, were two of four Canadian youths who won a trip to Copenhagen to study sustainability as part of the Litter Less photography competition hosted by Environmental Defence.

ing workshops, learning and making presentations on environmental issues. For the Taylors, the trip kindled their passion for green living. Already environmentally conscious – both have been avid members of St.

Joseph’s environmental club – they were amazed to see how much more sustainable cities can be. “The first thing we saw when we were flying in was windmills in the water,” Kim said, pointing to Copenhagen’s heavy reliance on

wind power. Jennifer pointed to Copenhagen’s healthy cycling culture, which sees 36 per cent of the city’s population using bikes as a regular mode of transportation. Both Taylor sisters are much the same, with Kim biking to and from school and Jennifer cycling throughout Kingston, where she is studying mining at Queen’s University. “They say there are more bikes than people in the city,” Jennifer said. “That’s something I’d like to see here, but Toronto’s really lacking the road system you need for bikes.” Another green initiative in Copenhagen that caught their eye was the addition of footprints on the ground leading to waste receptacles. Studies have shown people were less likely to litter when they are literally guided to trash bins. They were also shown a mock-up of a sewage system that shed light on the issue of people accidentally or carelessly flushing waste down the toilet; given a small amount of money and challenged to create the most sustainable meal possible at a grocery store; and treated to activities such as visits to Tivoli Gardens and Copenhagen’s waterfront. “In Copenhagen, you could

actually swim in the harbour, but in Toronto, you don’t really want to,” Jennifer said. In working alongside students and teachers from other countries, the Taylors also gained insight into how environmental issues are perceived around the world, which reinforced the notion that concerns over the environment are truly a global issue. The Taylor sisters noted that, as much as Canadians may think they are living environmentally friendly lifestyles, there is always more that can be done. “People might think they’re not making a difference, but every little thing does help,” Jennifer said. In winning the competition, Kim was also awarded $500 for her school’s environmental club and already has an idea how she might want to spend it. “I’m thinking I’d like to use the money to create a sustainable ecosystem in an aquarium,” she said. The Litter Less competition was run in Canada by Environmental Defence as part of the Canada’s Next Green Journalist contest (http:// bit.ly/R8PaFC). The organization is looking for participants for the next cycle of the competition.

Graphic artist’s book captures stories of Regent Park youth JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com From time spent working at an arts drop-in centre for youth in Regent Park to daily observations of life in downtown Toronto, graphic artist Dave Lapp has seen his share of interesting stories. Lapp, who lives near Yonge and Bloor streets, has captured snippets of downtown Toronto life, compiling what he has seen and heard in his latest book, People Around Here. The book acts as a companion piece of sorts to his first published book, Drop-In, in which he outlined some of his experiences teaching art to children in the inner city. Drop-In offers an insider view of life in the organization where he worked, and is in turns funny and shocking. “Drop-In was almost a harder book to write because a lot of the stories are about the rough stuff that happens in (the Regent Park) neighbourhood,” he said. “They’re often completely beneath notice and they happen to children.” People Around Here, meanwhile, looks at day-to-day occurrences, bringing the Annex and downtown Toronto to life in its 152 pages. Like his earlier books, it developed organically. “None of my books were planned, but I’m just constantly producing work,” he said.

‘I could make my life a lot easier by giving it (graphic art) up and teaching more, but I’m not the same person if I’m not doing my own art.’ ~ Graphic artist Dave Lapp Lapp has long been interested in graphic art, taking on a role as the graphics editor for his school paper at the University of Western Ontario in the late 1980s. He continued to pursue his passion at the Ontario College of Art and Design, winning a comic art award from now-defunct independent Canadian comic book publisher Vortex. While he thought he was on his way, his optimism was quickly dashed. “They gave me the award and I signed a contract with them when I was in school,” he said. “However, they didn’t really publish anything in 1992 (when he won) and they wound up closing down.” Lapp began publishing minicomics of his work while having some of his work published in vari-

ous publications. “A fellow cartoonist, Joe Ollmann, handed some of my mini-comics to his friend, who was the publisher at Conundrum (Press),” he said. While Conundrum has published his three books – Drop-In, People Around Here and a compilation of more surreal strips called Children of the Atom – he continues to find the road a tough one to hoe. “When you see art commodified like this, you assume people will buy it, but apart from a few of the big names like Kate Beaton and Chester Brown, it’s hard to get your name out there,” he said. Lapp remains committed to his art, however, supplementing his career as a graphic artist with work teaching cartooning to children at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Avenue Road Arts School. “My wife is confused sometimes because she sees how much hard work I put into it,” he said. “I could make my life a lot easier by giving it up and teaching more, but I’m not the same person if I’m not doing my own art.” Lapp is currently working on a longer graphic novel, running around 500 pages, recounting his childhood. Some of his existing work can be seen at his website, www.davelappcomics.blogspot.ca, and his books are available at www.conundrumpress.com

Staff photo/JUSTIN SKINNER

Graphic artist Dave Lapp holds a copy of his latest book, ‘People Around Here’, which offers slice-of-life glimpses of people in the city.

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012 |

Opinion The City Centre Mirror is published every Thursday at 175 Gordon Baker Rd., Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2, by Toronto Community News, a Division of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Ian Proudfoot Marg Middleton Peter Haggert Antoine Tedesco Warren Elder Angela Carruthers Debra Weller Mike Banville

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Make 2013 Year of the City Centre Community

here is an infinite number of ways to improve and progress our communities. The secret is to actually get out and do it. Your actions don’t have to be big. They don’t have to be time-consuming. They don’t need to command the spotlight – although some are very public. To borrow a phrase, just do it. In today’s newspaper we’ve compiled a simple list of possibilities. A few meetings. Some great phone conversations with community members – it wasn’t hard to find 50 ways to improve our community. These thoughts of course are only a sample. If you visit bit.ly/TCN_50ways, you’ll see the 50 ways as expressed in each of our nine community newspaper neighbourhoods throughout Toronto. We think the more information you have about your community the better. Your City Centre Mirror our view reaches 47,450 homes. And our website, www.citycentremirror. See pages 12 & com, reaches many more com13 for a list of munity members. It’s been a year where our Facebook and ways to help Twitter feeds have had a more prominent role in our quest to provide you news and information about your community in a format you desire. We are dedicated to the betterment of City Centre and we sponsor many community events. It’s all meant to give you increased access to community information and to grow community involvement and commitment. The centre of the city isn’t Scarborough. It isn’t North York. It isn’t the Beach. There is, of course, common interest for all communities across Toronto. But there’s a deep richness of community life and spirit that is uniquely City Centre in flavour. We encourage everyone to become deeply involved in your community. And share your stories, thoughts, projects and objectives with us. We love to share them with our readers. The sheer act of being a resident means you are a community owner. That means you are responsible for the upkeep, the health and wellness and the profile of where you live. We are all community builders. Thanks to all those community groups who participated in this project. We look forward to your feedback and future ideas on building a better City Centre. As always, we encourage you to share your thoughts with us. And we wish you all a safe and festive weekend as we inch closer to 2013. Together, let’s make 2013 The Year of the City Centre community. newsroom

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 letters@insidetoronto.com, or mailed to The City Centre Mirror, 175 Gordon Baker Rd. Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2.

The city has begun to install electronic water meters, which will transmit water use data wireless every few hours through some type of antennae installed for the purpose. Why not transmit such data once a month or every three months? Such convenience for the city bureaucracy brings a convenient but intrusive use of technology right into our homes. I am worried about the health and safety aspects of ever-growing electromagnetic radiation. There are pregnant moms and babies in the households. They are exposed to such radiation all for the convenience of city bureaucracy. We have heard enough about radiation from cellphones and now we add more of it to the ever growing load of harmful radiation that we are being exposed to in our daily living environment. This kind of pollution is not welcome. K. Chandra

Mayor’s fate will impact council in coming year For city hall columnists, the late-December spot in the paper is customarily reserved for a look forward at the coming year at council. And if this were more ordinary times, it would be fairly easy to predict some things. One might write about how council will make a decision on whether to invite a casino resort complex into the city’s downtown or how the city will come to terms with the need to fund transit infrastructure at the expense of funding services to the community, or vice versa. For 2013, though, much of what comes to pass will hinge on what happens in the days following Jan. 7, in the matter of Mayor Rob Ford’s appeal of a judicial order demanding he be removed from office. If the decision is upheld, the repercussions are seismic. They are also unpredictable.

THE CITY

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Council will have an immediate decision to make within two months of the decision: whether to hold a byelection for the office of mayor, or appoint a new mayor for the remainder of the term. Should council appoint, it will have to decide what direction it actually intends to take. Ford has spent the past two years attempting to fulfill a right-wing agenda at city hall – and has had some success in doing so. But council has not consistently shared that view, frequently rebuffing Ford’s more controversial initiatives.

Usually when council considers appointing for a vacancy, there is some effort to make sure the appointee reflects the politics of the person they’re replacing. Under this council, that rule of thumb may or may not apply. It is up in the air. And that goes double for the public. Ford was elected as a clear leader of the pack, and in the past, voters have been notably forgiving of the mayor’s many personal foibles. If there’s a byelection, Ford has every right to run in it and at least as of late this month, every intention of doing so, and given history – a very good possibility, all things considered, of being elected. As does federal New Democrat MP and former city councillor Olivia Chow if she decides to run for mayor.

So once again: in 2013, anything goes. One thing we can predict, or at least observe, about 2013: in the next year, Toronto Council is going to have to finish the messy process of growing up and learning how to govern itself. It’s done well enough so far, coalescing around what its members deemed unacceptable cuts in the 2012 budget, and solidifying around a consensus in favour of light rail compared to the mayor’s vision of a Scarborough subway. But next year, the challenges will be big: council will have the city of the future in its hands like it never has before. Alternatively, if things go differently on Jan. 7, council will have to learn to work with this mayor again. Either way – 2013 is a great big unknown.

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Community

Residents’ association looking for stories from the 1930s to ’80s JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com

he Harbord Village Residents’ Association (HVRA) is seeking out the stories of current and former residents as they prepare to bring their community’s rich history to life through art. The HVRA recently received an $18,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to create an exhibit that will highlight the people, cultures and transitions that have helped shaped Harbord Village from roughly 1930 to 1980. “We’re putting together an oral history of the neighbourhood and trying to capture memories to show what life was like in the area over those years,” said Nicole Schulman, HVRA member. The association has

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already started conducting interviews with current and former residents and aims to put together a show and an interactive website. With roughly 50 interviews already completed, the group certainly has no shortage of material from which to draw. “There’s such a range of people who we’ve gotten to contribute,” Schulman said. “It’s really interesting to see how it’s changed over a span of time.” Schulman noted Harbord Village was once considered a poor neighbourhood and that residents would typically only live there until they had saved enough money to move elsewhere. That was followed by waves of immigration. While it was very Anglocentric into the 1920s, it soon gave way to a rising Jewish community. In the

Photo/COURTESY

A Grade 3 class at King Edward School in 1946. Photo/COURTESY

The Harbord Village Residents’ Association has already conducted roughly 50 interviews with current and former residents, including members of the Ho family, pictured here in front of 120 Major St., circa 1978.

1950s, it saw an influx of Italian and Portuguese immigrants and became a popular place for ChineseCanadians to settle in the 1970s. “There was also a black community in the neighbourhood that goes way back and has continued,” Schulman said. “It was always a very mixed community, but you

DOWNT WNTOWNHYUNDAI

can definitely see (demographic) shifts.” In the 1930s, ’40s and even into the ’50s, many of the homes were divided into multiple units and would often house large groups of people. “The houses would have 11 people living in them and sharing one bathroom,” Schulman said. The area became more

gentrified in the 1980s and many of the homes were renovated and returned to single-family status. Schulman added the project could look at specific themes, such as the prominence of Harbord Village’s laneways throughout its early days. “One thing we’ve heard a lot is that the laneways were really important to kids,” she said. “They were a place where they socialized and a place where the older ones might have learned the facts of life a little bit.” While the exhibit will

not be implemented until later next year, the HVRA is looking to collect as many stories as possible. Some of the stories will be shared online, through plaques and at local venues. “We want to help people in the neighbourhood and throughout Toronto to learn about a different time in our history,” Schulman said. Anyone with a story to share about life in Harbord Village from the 1930s through the 1980s is asked to contact Schulman at n.m.schulman@gmail.com

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012

Share your stories about growing up in Harbord Village

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012 |

Arts & Entertainment

Playwright’s latest piece is about Canadian peacekeepers JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com While downtown Toronto resident and playwright Hannah Moscovitch has covered her share of unusual and challenging topics, few were more difficult than her latest piece, This is War. The play depicts the experiences of Canadian peacekeeping soldiers, particularly those tasked with holding the volatile Panjwaii region, who did tours in Afghanistan often with little support. “It took a hell of a lot of research to get it right and it took me so far outside my own experience,” Moscovitch said. “When you’re writing about something like that, you have to be so respectful because these are people who are giving up their lives.” Moscovitch has written dramatic pieces about the war in Afghanistan before, having worked on the hit CBC radio drama Afghanada. “I was reading an editorial where (the writer) pointed out that Canadian playwrights aren’t really writing about Afghanistan and I realized that was true,” she said. “It’s a unique Canadian experience having veterans who are part of a modern coalition war in the

desert.” She said she believes the fact that the number of people affected by the conflict in Afghanistan has helped Canadians distance themselves from it. “We’re living in a post-war society whether we know it or not,” she said. While many would use the subject matter for This is War to editorialize on Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, Moscovitch was far more interested in sharing the stories of soldiers and war journalists while overseas. “The play doesn’t deal with whether the war should or shouldn’t have happened; I just wanted to share the experiences of the soldiers on the ground,” she said. Moscovitch is no stranger to touchy subject matter. One of her previous works, East of Berlin, tells the tale of a teen who discovers his father was a doctor at Auschwitz, while her play Essay offers a stark look at gender and power dynamics. Her work has garnered multiple Dora Mavor Moore Awards and the playwright has been nominated for the Governor General’s Award. Despite her success, the current playwright-in-residence at the

Tarragon Theatre is self-deprecating about her choice of career. “I don’t know if you ever really think you’ve made it in this line of work,” she said. “To be a playwright, first you have to convince yourself you are one, then you have to convince other people. Luckily, when I was starting out, I was too young to know how stupid I was being.” The downtown Toronto resident studied at the National Theatre School and joked about the fact she was rejected when she first applied to the prestigious institution. “I didn’t really think I wanted to go until I didn’t get in,” she said. “It was kind of childish, but hopefully I’ve grown up a bit since then.” She said she loves her downtown Toronto neighbourhood, largely because it’s so convenient. The playwright noted, in fact, she rarely ventures too far from home unless it’s absolutely necessary. “If I were ever to make my own map of Toronto, it would (cover) about 12 blocks,” she said. This is War will run at the Tarragon Theatre Jan. 3 to Feb. 3, with previews starting Dec. 28. For tickets or showtimes, visit www. tarragontheatre.com or call 416531-1827.

Photo/COURTESY

Tarragon playwright-in-residence Hannah Moscovitch’s work This is War, will be running at the Tarragon Theatre Jan. 3 to Feb. 3.

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$25,707 +HST

- ALLOYS - BLUETOOTH - Approx. 3629 KMS SILVER METALLIC - 2.5L - LEATHER - MOONROOF IN SAND 3 SILVER TO CHOOSE FROM - ALSO AVAILABLE per 100 kms. (32 MPG) Highway 6.0L/per 100 kms. (47 MPG), City 8.7L/

$20,359 +HST

OWS - POWER LOCKS - Approx. 3383 KMS SANDSTONE METALLIC - 2.5L - CVT - POWER WIND per 100 kms. (32 MPG) Highway 6.0L/per 100 kms. (47 MPG), City 8.7L/

$16,348 +HST

LOCKS - ALLOYS - KEYLESS - Approx. 5206 KMS GREY - 2.0L - CVT - POWER WINDOWS - POWER ALSO AVAILABLE IN SILVER per 100 kms. (37 MPG) Highway 5.7L/per 100 kms. (50 MPG), City 7.6L/

$28,737 +HST

KMS MOONROOF - BOSE SOUND SYSTEM - Approx. 4238 SUPER BLACK - AWD - LEATHER - NAVIGATION per 100 kms. (31 MPG) Highway 7.7L/per 100 kms. (40 MPG), City 9.6L/

$23,631 +HST

KMS 18" ALLOYS, UPRADED AUDIO - Approx. 7430 CARBON GREY - FWD, SV MODEL, MOONROOF, per 100 kms. (31 MPG) Highway 7.0L/per 100 kms. (40 MPG), City 9.0L/

AIRSTREAM SILVER - 2.5L - LEATHER - MOONROOF

• SHOP EARLY FOR BEST SELECTION • THESE OFFERS WILL NOT BE REPEATED • OVER 2 MILLION DOLLARS IN NISSAN INVENTORY MUST BE SOLD HST is extra. Vehicles may not be exactly as illustrated.

AVENUE NISSAN 1661 Avenue Rd. 416-783-3303 (Just South of 401)

a v e n u e n i s s a n . c o m

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012 |

Community

Premier announces locked door policy for elementary schools LISA QUEEN lqueen@insidetoronto.com

Staff photo/DAN PEARCE

Sebastian Coles shows Premier Dalton McGuinty how to make a craft before a school safety announcement at St. Fidelis Catholic Elementary school Thursday.

Just days after a gunman killed 20 children and six staff members at a school in Connecticut, Premier Dalton McGuinty was at a North York school to announce a lockeddoor policy for elementary schools in Ontario. “In the aftermath of that tragic event that unfolded in the U.S., I think there is am important question we have to ask ourselves. Are we taking all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of our kids at school?” McGuinty told a press conference Thursday Dec. 20 in the library of St. Fidelis Catholic Elementary school in the area of Keele Street and Hwy. 401. The province will spend $10 million for elementary schools to install security devices such as video cameras and buzzers to let visitors in. All elementary schools in the province must have in place by next September a locked-door policy that will

mean doors to schools are locked while children are in class, McGuinty said. “Now, we can’t, neither would we attempt to, turn our elementary schools into fortresses. We are not going to brick up these windows. That would be unreasonable,” he said. “I think it (the locked door policy) is an appropriate and reasonable response in keeping with what weighs heavily on the minds of parents.” In 2005, the province provided similar $3 million in funding for elementary schools to install security measures if the front doors could not be seen from the office. About 850 schools took advantage of the program. There are about 4,000 elementary schools in Ontario and McGuinty said he now wants all of them to be eligible for funding. McGuinty said the government is in a constant process of improving safety measures at schools. But he was clearly moved to beef up security measures

following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut on Dec. 14. “What that event south of the border did was raise the question in our own minds as a government. Have we, in fact, taken all reasonable steps to protect the safety and wellbeing or our kids in school?” McGuinty said. Before the press conference, McGuinty visited teacher Luciana Di Nizio’s Grade 2 class, where he joined the children in making tinfoil Christmas tree ornaments. He asked the youngsters what they do to be nice during the year. “He l p m y s i s t e r g e t dressed,” one student said. “Help my mom,” said another. “Roast a chicken,” a third chimed in. Student Mike Tesi then asked McGuinty if he has been naughty or nice this year. “Mostly nice. Depends who you ask,” a smiling McGuinty answered.

City to kick off consultation meetings in January The City of Toronto will be taking the question of whether there should be a casino built in city limits to a number of neighbourhood meetings in January. The city-wide consultation will take the form of community open houses as well as an interactive website.

The consultation will allow input on several questions that council will be facing later in the winter when it decides whether to welcome a casino resort to the city: should there be a casino in Toronto at all? If so, where would be the best location? What else should council

consider in making its decision? The consultation meetings will take place in five locations starting the second week in January: Visit www.toronto.ca/ casinoconsultation for details and to comment in January.

SHOPPERS DRUG MART DONATES TO ST. MICHAEL’S FOUNDATION’S CANCER COMFORT FUND FOR WOMEN

Toronto Shop Talk is hosted by Toronto Community News, publisher of your award-winning community newspaper.

416.493.4400

Representatives from Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Toronto presented St. Michael’s Foundation with a cheque for $60,455.00 towards the Cancer Comfort Fund forWomen.The money was raised through theTree of Life campaign which gave customers and employees the opportunity to donate directly to the organization to make a difference to women’s health in their community.Over the last 11 years,Tree of Life has raised over $20 million with 450 local women’s health organizations supported in 2012 alone.

This feature is brought to you by The City Centre Mirror bringing you the best in local news and deals!

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012 |

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917

(L (L

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5 4 6 6

SEE MORE PHOTOS : www.GetLeo.com Not intended to solicit persons under contract. *Certain Conditions May Apply. ReMax West Realty Inc. does not guarantee the sale of your home. Exclusively offered by Frank Leo.

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012

SELL Your Home FASTER and for MORE MONEY!

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012 |

Donate to the SickKids Foundation by visiting www.sickkidsfoundation.com or calling 1-888474-2554.

Join your local residents’ association to speak out as a community advocate.

Organize a skating party for your neighbours at Nathan Phillips Square, the Alex Duff rink in Christie Pits, at Harbourfront Centre or at other venues.

Give children a leg up by becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister at www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca

Organize a community cleanup; make a point of cleaning litter in your area often.

Help seniors and adults with disabilities in downtown Toronto by becoming a shopping and medical escort with the Society of Sharing. Call Dexter Garcia at 416-4130380, ext. 224.

Share your skills with women in support of Sistering’s lifeenhancing programming. Visit www.sistering.org or call 416-926-9762, ext. 222.

Support local businesses by shopping at independent merchants.

Join your local Community Police Liaison Committee to ensure good communication between police and neighbours.

Learn more about your community by joining a Heritage Toronto Walk (www.heritagetoronto.org).

Enjoy quality theatre while supporting adults with disabilities by catching a show staged by Famous People Players (www.fpp.org).

Help maintain the gardens at Riverdale Farm: email gardenclub@riverdalefarm.ca

Give blood at Canadian Blood Services, 67 College St. (www.bloodservices.ca)

Contact your local school to learn about volunteer mentoring opportunities.

Improve Toronto’s urban canopy by planting a free tree in your front yard. Visit www. toronto.ca/311 or call 311.

Help St. James Town youth discover a passion for the arts by volunteering for UforChange. Visit www.uforchange.org or call 647-348-0901 for information on volunteer opportunities.

Get to know your neighbours by organizing a block party.

WE OFFER 50 WAYS

TO TAKE CHARGE IN YOUR CITY, YOUR

Help shape a better St. James Town while bolstering your own skills by joining Community Matters Toronto (www.communitymatterstoronto.org).

Buy local produce at the Davisville Village Farmer’s Market throughout the warmer months at June Rowlands Park from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays.

Help ensure kids in downtown Toronto have access to healthy recreation activities by helping out at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (www.cabbagetownyouth.ca).

Meet new people while raising funds at a Community Fundraising Dinner at the Children’s Storefront (www. childrensstorefront.com).

Prepare and serve hot meals to the homeless and underhoused at the Scott Mission (www.scottmission.com).

Clear a senior’s driveway or mow his lawn.

COMMUNITY, YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

Buy food, shelter and warm clothes for street youth through Covenant House. A catalogue of gifts for street youth is available online at www.streetkidsgifts.com

Support your library. Libraries in Toronto have a range of programming from movie nights to peer tutoring and live music nights. Visit www.torontopubliclibrary. ca for details on what your local library has in store for you and your family.

Learn about Toronto’s history by visiting heritage sites including Mackenzie House at 82 Bond St., Spadina House at 285 Spadina Rd. or Casa Loma.

Help those living on the streets get food, shelter and other basic necessities by volunteering with Out of the Cold (www. ootc. ca)

Serving THE ANNEX, MIDTOWN, ROSEDALE, CABBAGETOWN and THE DOWNTOWN CORE

www.citycentremirror.com

Take part in the annual Pride Week celebrations from June 21 to 30. Volunteer with Pride at www.pridetoronto.com/ volunteer

Help prepare and deliver meals to those in hospice care at Perram House (www.perramhouse.ca).

Take in some culture at the Royal Ontario Museum or Art Gallery of Ontario, or drop by community galleries to see the works of local artists.

Check out ways to green your community by volunteering or attending events hosted by organizations such as the Toronto Green Community (www.torontogreen.ca) or Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (www. yourleaf.org).

Donate money or a used instrument in good condition to the Regent Park School of Music (www.rpsm.org) to give a child in downtown Toronto the gift of music.

Become a youth peer facilitator to promote antihomophobia through Planned Parenthood’s Teens Educating and Confronting Homophobia program (www.ppt.on.ca/ Anti-Homophobia_teach.asp).

Join a parks organization such as Friends of Christie Pits Park, Friends of Oriole Park or Friends of Bickford Park to help ensure your community green space is clean, safe and welcoming.

Bring your community or workplace together to raise funds and awareness for Free the Children (www. freethechidlren.com), helping children around the world gain access to education, healthcare and medicine.

Contact Solomon Boye at the City of Toronto at 416392-7800 and start the process to plant a community garden full of fresh fruits and vegetables.

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012

Provide care for children, help out in the community kitchen or find other volunteer opportunities at the Scadding Court Community Centre. Visit www.scaddingcourt.org/volunteer or call 416-392-0335, ext. 240 for details.

Host a run, concert, food drive or other event for food banks such as The Stop Community Food Centre (www.thestop. org) or the Daily Bread Food Bank at www.dailybread.ca/ getinvolved/host-a-community-event

Give up your seat on transit for someone who needs it. Courtesy/416 COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR WOMEN

Become a tutor or mentor to Regent Park youth through Pathways to Education by visiting www.pathwaystoeducation.ca or calling 416-6421570.

Start a Neighbourhood Watch in your community: contact the Crime Prevention Association of Toronto (CPAT) at www.cpatoronto.org or 416-225-1102.

Lend a hand with Habitat for Humanity at a build site or at a ReStore location. Visit www. torontohabitat.ca/volunteer. html

Help out with a games night for those experiencing poverty, escaping abuse or dealing with mental illness or abuse at St. Felix Centre by calling 416-203-1624, ext. 23.

Welcome newcomers to Toronto by volunteering to help with skills development and language training with University Settlement by calling 416-977-8325.

Get fit by starting a walking or running club.

Carpool or promote car-sharing and ride-sharing.

Sandra helps sort food collected for the 416 Community Support For Women’s food bank program. The outreach organization provides support to at-risk women in Regent Park.

Strength in numbers Community building takes dedication of many people

Deliver Meals on Wheels or pay friendly visits to seniors through Senior Peoples Resources in North Toronto. Visit www.sprint-homecare.ca, drop by 140 Merton St. or call 416-481-6411.

Assist women fleeing violence by volunteering to help YWCA Toronto run awards ceremonies or start up an advocacy or fundraising campaign.

Honour Canada’s veterans at a Remembrance Day service in November. Visit www.toronto.ca/lestweforget/remembrance-city.htm for a service near you.

Help downtown youth get a leg up by volunteering at St. Stephen’s Community House. Visit www.ststephenshouse. com/volunteer or call 416-9252103, ext. 221 for details.

■ What are your ideas for making City Centre a great place to live? Let us know at letters@insidetoronto.com

JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com

here is no shortage of ways Torontonians can improve their communities in 2013, but the first step toward exacting any sort of change is to actually dedicate oneself to making things better. “The first step is to decide you are going to do it,” said former Trinity-Spadina councillor Joe Pantalone. “We are all stronger when we help each other and the environment we live in.” Pantalone certainly knows of what he speaks. The longtime councillor had 29 years of experience in municipal politics, including stints as the Ward 19 councillor and a turn as deputy mayor under David Miller. While he no longer sits on council, he remains active in community issues, staying involved in tree advocacy issues and Waterfront Toronto. Through his experience, Pantalone said he has come to firmly believe, “If you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem”. From food banks to the abundance of not-for-profits, immigration settlement work, meals on wheels or tree planting, there are countless ways for residents to work together to create a better society, Pantalone said.

Steve Barnes, a policy analyst with the Wellesley Institute downtown, said residents can take small steps to effect change in their communities simply by being aware of their surroundings. By looking around and finding improvements – large or small – that can be made, it will make all of Toronto a better place. “There are some welldesigned neighbourhoods that have things that enhance health, such as sidewalks, community centres and libraries, and we encourage people to use them,” he said. “There are other parts of the city, though, that are not as well-designed for these types of things.” Barnes suggested people look throughout their community for inadequacies or ways that improvements can be made and contact their local councillor to help bring about change. “Some things can take a while to change, like getting sidewalks to give people better access to transit,” he said. “But even something as stepping outside your building and seeing that the basketball hoop in the park across the street is broken, you can call the city and they’ll come and fix it and make sure kids in the neighbourhood have a place to play.” Barnes said other issues,

such as a lack of trash and recycling receptacles in parks, can also often be remedied with a quick call, but even longer-term improvements should not seem so daunting that residents do not bother to make a call. “There are some longerterm things, but when councillors hear from a lot of people about one issue, it has a snowball effect,” he said. On a smaller and more personal scale, Naomi Schafer of the Fairlawn Neighbourhood Centre said people can ensure their communities remain vibrant simply by doing their shopping and dining close to home. “We’ve seen a lot of small businesses come and go in this community over the past few years, so by shopping and dining locally, people can strengthen their community,” she said. Shopping within one’s own community can also help bring neighbours closer together as they run into one another while visiting their local haunts. “We wind up supporting our neighbourhood and supporting our neighbours,” she said. “This is a healthy area and business is evolving, so we want to see the best of these businesses get the support they want.” – with files from Erin Hatfield

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012 |

City Hall

Budget committee to look at Gardiner Expressway options DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com Toronto’s budget committee has asked for reports on the pros and cons of selling or leasing the Gardiner Expressway rather than trying to manage and repair the crumbling elevated highway using taxpayers’ money alone.

The city is looking at spending more than half a billion dollars to rehabilitate the highway after engineering studies indicated it is nearing the end of its useful lifespan, and will only be safe to drive on for the next six years. The motion to look at privatizing the highway came from an unlikely

source: Trinity-Spadina Councillor Adam Vaughan, a left-of-centre critic of Mayor Rob Ford who is contemplating a run for the mayoralty himself. Vaughan brought the motion to the committee with the idea of selling the highway to a private operator, who would set tolls and use that money to keep the

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road standing – and also provide money to the city. Members of the budget committee were cautiously supportive of the idea, although not all keen to actually sell the highway. RISKY GAME “Creative ideas are good, but it’s a risky game when we talk about selling the DVP or the Gardiner Expressway,” said York Centre Councillor James Pasternak. “If those were offloaded to private hands, it could strangle decision-making for the city for decades. It would affect our ability to structure a regional transit system, it would strangle us in planning and building.” Pasternak said leasing might be an option, something that others, including

Etobicoke North Councillor Doug Ford, echoed. “I’m not comfortable with selling off the Gardiner,” he said, suggesting the city look for foreign investors worldwide for a partnership arrangement. “All over the world they’re getting the government involved with the private sector. “I don’t see the harm in at least looking into it.” Budget Chair Mike Del Grande said the issue ultimately needed to go to council. “The whole issue of the Gardiner should take place at full council,” he said. “It needs a full whatever... drag-it-out discussion.” Del Grande said any discussion on the future of the Gardiner shouldn’t pre-empt the necessary repair work

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‘I want to assure Torontonians: we are going to fix whatever needs to be fixed on the Gardiner.’ – Mike Del Grande, budget chair going forward now. “I want to assure Torontonians: we are going to fix whatever needs to be fixed on the Gardiner,” he said. “I don’t view it as good money after bad money, because the Gardiner is the only structure we have. “We have to do what we have to do.”

• 2001 Audio Video • Best Buy • Canadian Tire • Dell Computers • Freshco • Future Shop • Litemode Ltd • Metro • Michaels of Canada • No Frills • Pharmaplus • Shoppers Drug Mart • Sobeys • Staples Business Depot • The Brick If you did not receive this week’s flyers, please call 416-493-2284 * Flyers delivered to selected areas only.

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, December 27, 2012 |

Transit

TOinTRANSIT

Maureen Adamson takes on new role as TTC vice-chair JOANNA LAVOIE jlavoie@insidetoronto.com

Former Casey House board member ready for challenge

Maureen Adamson is excited about her new roles as both a citizen appointee and the new vice-chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). “It is a very exciting opportunity and, needless to say, I am energized. I’m delighted to be elected,” said Adamson, who applied to serve on the now 11-member TTC board at the end of the summer. “I think it’s great to have citizens on the panel. It’s a real progressive move.” One of four new citizen board members selected from a field of nearly 500 applicants, Adamson’s citizen counterparts include Nick Di Donato, president and CEO of Liberty Entertainment Group; Alan Heisey, managing partner at Papazian, Heisey and Myers Barristers & Solicitors; and Anju Virmani, CIO of Cargojet Canada Ltd. Equally accomplished in her own right, the regular transit user who lives near Queen Street East and

Woodbine Avenue is the CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Canada. TTC Chair Karen Stintz said she’s looking forward to working with the TTC board’s new citizen members. “ I t ’s e a r l y d a y s b u t Maureen, Anju, Alan and Nick, the new ‘citizen commissioners’, are welcome additions to the TTC and the city,” she wrote in an email to The Mirror. Adamson said her goal is to represent the citizen’s perspective the best she can and to help keep riders informed of the decisions the TTC will make. “To me, that’s a privilege,” she said, adding she’d also play an oversight role in ensuring the Commission’s strategic plan is delivered. Adamson, who has several years experience in executive leadership as well as customer service, said it’s an exciting time for the TTC. “It’s a re a l l y p i vo t a l portfolio with expansion, accessibility, gridlock and regional transit issues,” said

Maureen Adamson is the new vice-chair of the TTC.

Adamson, whose career has included leadership roles at the Ontario Ministry of Health, Women’s College Ho s p i t a l a n d Mo h a w k College.

“I have a lot of experience in large capital redevelopment projects and publicprivate partnerships and in all of the roles in my career I’ve had to deal with vol-

unteers, the public sector and customers. Most of my career has also been in the not-for-profit sector.” She’s also a past board member of a large credit union and sat on the board of Casey House, a downtown Toronto palliative and supportive care facility for those with HIV/AIDS. Adamson presently serves as the chair of the board for Research Canada, a national, not-for-profit organization that aims to improve the health and prosperity of Canadians by championing Canada’s global leadership in health research. Stintz, who represents Ward 16 (EglintonL a w r e n c e ) , s a i d s h e’s confident Adamson will do a fine job as the board’s new vice-chair. “In the weeks since I first met Maureen, I have been impressed by her professionalism. Her background in government is certainly an asset. Maureen clearly has a desire to help the public,”

said Stintz. “I was impressed that Maureen immediately asked myself and management for detailed information and analysis of upcoming TTC issues. She also understands what she will be encountering as vice-chair.” Further, Stintz said as a Beach resident Adamson would help on the Leslie Barns project, the Ashbridges Bay car house for the TTC’s new streetcars. “Beachers will benefit greatly. They will want to take the TTC more than they do now when the streetcars arrive on Queen and park at Leslie Barns,” she said. Adamson learned she’d been chosen in late October after an interview process and reference checks. She was officially sworn in as a citizen appointee as well as elected as the Commission’s new vice-chair Nov. 21. The TTC’s new citizen commissioners will serve the balance of the current City Council term, which is slated to come to a close in 2014.

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