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Looking for things to do? Check out our calendar/ 5
Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly sits down for a year-end chat / 10
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Turnout Toronto to engage voters
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WARMING UP
A group of citizens who hope to see more people working to better the city are taking steps to boost the public’s involvement in the future of Toronto. The group is hosting an event called Turnout Toronto: A Civic Engagement Fair, which will give a number of local organizations, associations, politicos and City of Toronto departments a chance to meet with the public and increase awareness over what they are doing. Turnout Toronto will work much like a job fair, with the public invited to drop by various information booths and learn how to get involved. The aim is to ramp up civic action, civic pride and voter turnout. The event coincides well with this fall’s municipal election, offering visitors to Turnout Toronto a chance to meet with councillors and council hopefuls and learn how to get involved in a political campaign. CONFIRMED GROUPS
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Confirmed guest organizations include the Ranked Ballot Initiative, the Toronto City Youth Council, Toronto City Planning, Jane’s Walk, Better Budget T.O., Women in Toronto Politics and more. The event will take place at the Centre for Social Innovation, 720 Bathurst Street, from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
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For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ events/244698312362710
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DJ SKATE: Norha Ali warms her hands at one of the Natrel Rink fire boxes during the first DJ Skate night of the season at Harbourfront Centre. Head down this Saturday and enjoy SLOWED on Ice with DJ Lucie Tic.
Meeting tonight on proposed dome for Central Tech field Residents can raise their concerns tonight at a public meeting discussing a potential plan to cover the field at Central Technical School. The meeting is set to be hosted by councillor Adam Vaughan. The Toronto District School Board is looking to replace the
old field with turf and build a winter dome over the playing surface. The addition of a dome, in particular, would limit public access to the field. The plan, which remains in the public consultation phase, hit a roadblock in November when an environmental assess-
ment showed the soil on the field was contaminated, leading to the field being closed off. Vaughan’s meeting will give residents a chance to voice their opinions on the possibility that the field could be closed off for the longer term. The councillor will also discuss potential traf-
fic increases, the obscuring of Central Tech’s historic façade, the possible contribution of turf and a dome to heat island and drainage problems and more. The meeting will be held in the Central Tech auditorium (693 Bathurst Street) beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9.
community
city centre in brief
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014 |
2
Kids interactive on friday wconcert
hockey skill trainthe new kids ing at Regent Park gallery at the AGO wFree wExplore
Kids are invited to take part in an interactive concert that aims to promote fitness. Jiggijump, featuring popular kids’ entertainers Judy and David, is hitting venues across Ontario. The show will include stretching and exercise activities and kicks off in the atrium of the CBC building, 250 Front St. W., at 11:15 a.m. Friday.
Youngsters in the Regent Park area can hone their hockey skills with free Wednesday night training sessions at the Regent Park south rink. The sessions run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. until February for children aged seven to 11 and from 8 to 9:30 p.m. for those aged 11 to 14. Full equipment is mandatory.
Bistro hosting jazz series wPaintbox
Paintbox Bistro and the Jazz Performance Education Centre are teaming up to bring a special series of concerts to Regent Park. The JPEC Flavours of Jazz series will showcase local and international jazz talents with the first show featuring African Rhythms performed by Randy Weston at 8 p.m. Saturday. Visit http:// blog.paintboxbistro.ca/eventregistration
Skate at Moss Park with MPP Murray wArena
Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray is inviting constituents to Moss Park Arena for weekly free skate days. Families can join in the skating fun from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays until March 11. Murray is also looking for volunteers to help skaters, particularly those new to the ice. Anyone interested is asked to call 416-972-7683.
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The Art Gallery of Ontario has opened a new space devoted to kids and families. The Kids’ Gallery gives children a chance to learn about art, explore books, paint portraits, dress up in themed costumes and more. The first exhibition will focus on paintings and sculptures from around the world. It will run until August. Fight parking tickets during ice storm wissued
Residents who got a parking ticket during the recent ice storm can plead their case to the City of Toronto. Overnight street parking is banned in many parts of the city, and requires a permit in others. On Monday, Dec. 30, the city advised people to request cancellation of a ticket by describing the special circumstances in an application to dispute the fine at http://bitly.com/1ggfwPJ Completed application
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pets
Scadding Court drop-in for kids up to six Scadding Court’s Indoor Park Drop-in is opening its doors to children up to six. The indoor park lets kids ride bikes, play games and socialize in a supervised indoor environment. Parents/guardians must stay with their kids. It takes place Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon from Jan. 16 and runs through the end of the school year.
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Teeth time for pets Your pet’s oral health is an indicator of its overall well-being
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a&e Halong Bay, Vietnam Blogger explores this UNESCO World Heritage Site
drive in underground PATH wclothing
The Yonge Street Mission will host the 16th annual Longest Underground Clothing Drive in the PATH. From 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from Jan. 20 to 24, people are invited to drop off gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothes at 17 locations along the PATH in downtown Toronto. The mission will distribute the donated clothes to families in need.
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3
Repair Café Toronto aims for less disposable society
“
JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com While many people may have the urge to simply throw out broken appliances, jewelry and electronics and replace them with newer versions of the same, a small group of volunteers is looking to make today’s society less disposable. For the past six months or so, Repair Café Toronto has been offering free volunteer-driven gatherings where others can bring in broken goods and have them fixed for free. The idea was spawned out of a similar movement in Amsterdam, with Toronto residents Paul Magder and Wai Chu Cheng looking to rid their fellow Torontonians of the urge to just get rid of anything and everything once it breaks. “We’re trying to change the mindset of the throwaway society and helping people become fixers,” Magder said. Re p a i r Ca f é To ro n t o
The idea is not just fixing things ... Often, the people who bring things in to get fixed actually do the repairs themselves. – Paul Magder
Photos/COURTESY
Left, volunteer fixer Daniel Medeiros, foreground, and Susan Sussman check a vacuum cleaner during a recent Repair Café Toronto event. Right, Young Kim works on a lamp.
includes a number of volunteer “fixers” who specialize in fixing various types of items. The repairs are free, though the Repair Café does ask for donations to help cover the costs of promoting their services. ‘Fix anything’
“We have people who can fix anything from computers to home appliances like lamps, irons and toasters, to clothing to jewelry,” Magder said. “The idea is not just fixing things. Our volunteers go through the process of troubleshooting. Often, the
people who bring things in to get fixed will actually do the repairs themselves.” Magder pointed to the extreme throwaway nature of society by citing the example of an acquaintance who purchased a paper shredder from a major retail chain. When the item was deliv-
ered in non-working condition, the acquaintance called the retailer to complain and was told to throw it out and a replacement would be shipped. “It turned out there was just one part that was installed wrong,” he said. “It was an easy fix, but the first reaction was ‘just throw it out.’” Guests can bring their items in the day of the event and register to have them fixed, with fixers taking on tasks on a first-come firstserved basis. Free tea, coffee and pastries are provided as people wait. Of course, not everything brought in can be repaired. Magder estimates about 60
per cent of the items brought in can be repaired on-site, with volunteers telling many others exactly what to do to repair the item at home in cases where additional parts need to be bought. “We do have situations where items are not going to be repairable,” he said. “But most people walk away with their items fixed or at least knowing what they have to do.” Repair Café Toronto’s monthly events have mostly taken place at Skills for Change near St. Clair Avenue West and Bathurst Street, with one offshoot event at Wychwood Barns. In the new year, the organization plans to branch out with events at the Toronto Reference Library and North York Central Library. The next event will take place at Skills for Change, 791 St. Clair Avenue West, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11.
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For more information on the Repair Café, please visit www.repaircafetoronto.ca
DanceWeekend returns to Harbourfront Jan. 17 to 19 JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Lovers of dance will be able to get their fix when Dance Ontario’s annual DanceWeekend returns to Harbourfront Centre. The event will offer a three-day showcase of dance, with some 26 companies and artists performing in a wide variety of genres. “The general idea we’re trying to get across to the public is that there is a vast range of dance that we have here in Toronto and across Ontario,” said Dance Ontario executive director Rosslyn Jacob Edwards. The performers consist of Dance Ontario members, which range in scope from the National Ballet of Canada to various dance schools and individual dancers. Dance Ontario is the province’s leading dance advocacy body,
and DanceWeekend gives many of the organization’s members a chance to reach out to new audiences. “I don’t think people often think about how amazing the dance scene is here,” Jacob Edwards said. The weekend will also include a special tribute and the awarding of a Lifetime Achievement Award to National Ballet prima ballerina Nadia Potts, who followed up a storied career on stage with extensive teaching experience. Genres on display Genres on display throughout the weekend-long celebration range from flamenco to ballet to hip hop, with influences and styles hailing from North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India and elsewhere. The huge array of per-
formers, meanwhile, runs the gamut from up-and-coming youth dancers to experienced professionals. With so many diverse styles on display, Jacob Edwards said it was impossible to pin down favourites on DanceWeekend’s packed bill. “To me, they’re all highlights,” she said. DanceWeekend 2014 will take place at Harbourfront Centre from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, from 1 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18 and from 1 to 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19. Admission is $10, with all proceeds going to Dance Ontario. Tickets to the gala celebration of Nadia Potts, which runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on the Sunday, are $25.
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For full DanceWeekend lineup, visit http://danceontario.ca
Photo/JUBAL BATTISTI
Belinda McGuire will participate in the Dance Ontario DanceWeekend ‘14 at the Harbourfront Centre’s Fleck Dance Theatre Jan. 17-19.
| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014
community
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014 |
4
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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Race for council’s ward seats deserve residents’ attention
Write us
T
he heat is on. The race to the Oct. 27 municipal election is going to be complex, and hit residents where they live – in their wards. The high-profile race always focuses on who will become the mayor of the City of Toronto. With former councillor and David Miller-era budget chief David Soknacki filing his paper Monday, the first big name to challenge Rob Ford for the seat is in. Let the sound-bites begin! However, the mayor is just one vote on council. He or she leads an agenda, but the real races – the races that matter most – will be fought in the individual 44 wards across the city. In 2014, there are many issues that need addressing across the city – and each has its own unique issues, our view ward as well as a shared vision for the city. Get to know Knowing the people vying to fill your ward’s council seat – councillor their values and platforms – is extremely important. Knowing candidates that they have their own opinions, and will not be on a ‘ mayoral ticket’, following the lead of those who would be mayor. It is through these 44 councillors decisions impacting your local parks, streetscapes, safety and business concerns are voiced and brought to the bigger council chamber. Also, one councillor can impact the thinking of others – sometimes from clear across the city. Could a councillor in Etobicoke North impact a decision in Scarborough Southwest or Toronto Centre-Rosedale? Certainly. Residents should meet, find common ground on important issues such as development – the city isn’t getting any smaller, and development and intensification are but two examples of pressures every resident will feel. Then there are city-wide issues such as transit, where knowing how your candidate sits on the issue is important for both your ward and the economic viability of the city. The 2014 municipal election is an opportunity for residents across the city to dig deep into their communities, attend all-candidate debates and pose questions that need answering. The glamorous nature of the mayor’s race will take on a life of its own, but it’s the grassroots, nuts and bolts races in each ward that truly deserve the attention of each and every Torontonian.
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.
opinion
Walking a thin line at the hair salon Well, it looks like I’m a tad overdue for a haircut. Ah, whom I trying to kid? Truth be told, it’s actually several tads. I should have gone a long time ago. What can I say? It’s the thinning hair thing. Putting off salon visits kinda goes with the territory. Of course, thinning is just the politically correct term. Truth is, evaporating is more like it. David Copperfield couldn’t make mine disappear any quicker. (I mean it. He tried in one of his shows in Vegas. You can look it up on YouTube.) Which brings me back to the premise of this column. When you have thinning hair, you avoid getting it cut. Your rationale is simple: why pay a professional to lop off what few measly follicles you have left when they’ll inevitably disappear on their own – for free. Alas, you have to get it trimmed as regularly as those who are not thinning challenged. You have no choice.
jamie wayne guest column When what little thinning hair you have gets long, it makes you look sloppy, unkempt, absent-minded professor-ish. And if you wait too long to get it shorn, you may spook the neighbour’s dog and face the prospect of having the pup snap your scary picture and put it on his Facebook page to get even. So you get it done eventually and that’s when things get really embarrassing. You see, when a guy like me with thinning hair slinks into a salon, he can feel all the energy get sucked right out of the room. Not so when a hunk with a mane like a young Antonio Banderas sashays in through the doors. The moment a Banderas clone arrives, the hairstylists fight over him like it was a 20-girl Battle Royale in Wrestlemania. And then
the lucky winner does the samba to a Gloria Estefan medley while cutting his hair, pausing only occasionally to drool. Meanwhile, the poor soul who draws the short straw and has to do mine grumbles to herself all the way through, stopping only intermittently to hum Peggy Lee’s Is That All There is. And that, sadly, is the good news. The bad news is what happens after she’s done. She makes a huge production over what my hair looks like from behind. She gives me a gigantic mirror to hold and spins me around and around and around in the chair so I can get more angles of the back of my head than those 50 camera crews give you of the winning touchdown at the Super Bowl. The only thing missing is slo-mo, instant replay and me getting my head doused with Gatorade. Hey, my hair looks look great from behind after she’s
done, no question. But it never thins in the back so it always looks pretty good back there. Besides, where else do you check out the back of your head except in a salon? The rest of the world sees only the front and it’s the front that’s the problem here and it’s doing what it always does, thinning away like there’s no tomorrow. It was thinning when I dropped into the salon. It was thinning while it was being shampooed. It was thinning while it was being cut. It was thinning while it was being blow-dried. It was thinning while it was being styled. And to add insult to injury? All that spinning around in the chair makes it thin twice as fast. I tell ya, I can’t catch a break. Jamie Wayne is a lifelong columnist, who takes writing very seriously. The topics? Not so much. His column appears every Thursday. Contact him at jamie.wayne@sympatico.ca
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city centre
it's happening
highlighted
w Sunday, Jan. 12
happening in
Passport for Change WHEN: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. WHERE: Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St. CONTACT: Marion, http:// passportforchange.com COST: $15 This one-day, speed dating-style event at Wychwood Barns will give you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with lifestyle experts and coaches. From personal trainers, dieticians and nutritionists to psychologists and life coaches, spend six minutes with each expert and get a kick-start on achieving your goals in 2014.
w Wednesday, Jan. 15
Rotary Luncheon Speakers WHEN: 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. WHERE: The Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto, 25 St. Clair Ave. W. CONTACT: Pat Bartlett-Richards, pbartlett@webcanada.com COST: $25 Weekly speakers’ luncheon, this week talking about raising minimum wage. Book Club WHEN: 6 to 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. CONTACT: 416-973-4760, authorsmedia@harbourfrontcentre. com COST: Fee: $113
w Saturday, Jan. 11
Don’t have a cow: How eating veg can save the planet WHEN: 2 to 4 p.m. WHERE: Lillian H. Smith Library, 239 College St. CONTACT: 416-393-7747 Learn about the environmental benefits of eating less meat and how you can introduce healthy, delicious plant-based meals into your diet. Register in branch or call 416393-7747. Presented by the Toronto Vegetarian Association.
Check out our complete online community calendar by visiting www.citycentremirror.com. Read weeks of listings from your neighbourhood as well as events from across Toronto. Meet other book lovers, discuss fascinating topics and expand your world. The monthly book club features guest speakers and books handpicked from IFOA programming. The Fantasticks WHEN: 7:30 to 10 p.m. WHERE: St. Michael’s College School Centre for the Arts, 1515 Bathurst St. CONTACT: Tom Knight, info@dreamtheatreproductions.com COST: Adults $25, seniors and students $20 The Fantasticks is a musical allegory about a romantic young couple tested by meddling parents, adventure, misfortune, growing up and finding their way in a world that is often difficult to understand.
w Saturday, Jan. 18
Special screening of “Walesa. Man of Hope” WHEN: 6 to 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. CONTACT: Aleksandra Beer, 647831-9020, www.ekran.ca COST: $20 Ekran Polish Film Festival hosts a special screening of the film “Walesa. Man of Hope”, directed by Andrzej Wajda. The film presents the story of Lech Walesa, an ordinary shipyard worker and electrician who
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w Monday, Jan. 20
French Immersion Parent Information meeting WHEN: 6 p.m. WHERE: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, 80 Clinton St. CONTACT: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, 416-393-5206 French Immersion parent information meeting for the September 2014 school year.
w Wednesday, Jan. 22
Robert Burley: The Disappearance of Darkness WHEN: 11 a.m. WHERE: Ryerson Image Centre, 33 Gould St. CONTACT: Erin Warner, 416-979-5000, ext. 7032, erin.warner@ryerson.ca COST: Free Curated by Dr. Gaëlle Morel, “Robert Burley: The Disappearance of Darkness” examines both the dramatic and historical demise of film-manufacturing facilities and industrial darkrooms. The photographs taken between 2005 and 2010 speak to sites and events related to the key corporations involved in this transformation, such as Kodak, Agfa and
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became a leader of a revolution in Gdansk that caused the end of the Soviet dictatorship in eastern Europe and made Walesa a future president of Poland and The Nobel Peace Prize laureate.Screening with English subtitles. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Ilford. This exhibition addresses both the emergence of a new technology, which irrevocably changed photography, as well as the abrupt and rapid breakdown of a century-old industry. Black Star Subject: Canada WHEN: 11 a.m. WHERE: Ryerson Image Centre, 33 Gould St. CONTACT: Erin Warner, 416-979-5000, ext. 7032, erin.warner@ryerson.ca COST: Free “Black Star Subject: Canada” displays every one of the 1853 photographs filed under this heading in the Black Star Collection at Ryerson University. Elisa Julia Gilmour: Something in Someone’s Eye WHEN: 11 a.m. WHERE: Ryerson Image Centre, 33 Gould St. CONTACT: Erin Warner, 416-979-5000, ext. 7032, erin.warner@ryerson.ca COST: Free A series of four cinematic portraits alternating between subtle movement and photographic stillness.
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our spring/summer catalogue 2014!
Pick up your FREE copy at any Sears catalogue location or view it online at www.sears.ca/cataloguecentral Our expanded fashion and accessories selection offers fresh styles for Spring and bright designs for your home. You’ll find it all in this 900+ page catalogue that’s blooming with inspiring ideas. Enjoy convenient shopping from the comfort of your home with 24/7 ordering and flexible shipping options.
You can also download the Sears Catalogue iPad App! Scan the QR code with your iPad to download and start shopping with the Sears Catalogue iPad App or visit www.sears.ca/iPad
| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014
calendar
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014 |
6
A NEW KIND OF CHOIR FOR EVERYONE!
My Pop Choir members de-stressing by singing together. When it comes to feeling more energetic, positive and relaxed, Sharon Ricci thanks her newfound passion: singing in a choir. Anyone who knows Sharon will be surprised to hear that. Why? Because until joining My Pop Choir, Sharon would say: “I am not a singer. But I love to sing mostly in the shower and the car, of course!” So how did she make the leap from “fear of singing” to “loving being in this choir”? Sharon credits the comfortable and fabulously fun My Pop Choir, the fastest growing group of ‘everyone’ choirs in Southern Ontario.
Jacqueline wasn’t alone. My Pop Choir started in September 2011 with 1 choir and now has 7 choirs with over 300 members in the GTA!
According to Jacqueline Curtis, the founder of My Pop Choir, “You don’t need experience, musical skills or even know how to read music and there are no auditions or solos. The experience is about fun, energy and comfort. You leave your worries at the door when you come to a My Pop Choir session.”
The first two sessions are free Pop-Ins so you can see if My Pop Choir is for you. There’s nothing to lose, but your stress. The 10-week winter term for the current 7 choirs begins the week of January 13th. The Lawrence Park choir sessions are on Mondays. The Riverdale My Pop Choir runs on Tuesdays starting January 14th. The Sessions are from 7 to 8:30 pm.
Choir members agree that there are tremendous physical and psychological benefits to being a part of My Pop Choir. “It’s virtually impossible to think of anything else when you’re at a session. It’s therapeutic! There’s almost as much laughter at My Pop Choir sessions as there is singing,” says Oakville choir member Jenny Anderson. “No one thinks they’re a particularly good singer but together we sound great!”
Earth Rangers visit ROM Right, Sammy, a serval from Africa, shows off how high he can jump during an Earth Rangers Show at the ROM recently. Bottom, Earth Ranger Megan talks to children at the show. Staff photos/NICK PERRY
Etobicoke choir member, Bob, said “Joining My Pop Choir was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Just learning great songs like California Dreamin’, Hallelujah, Summer Breeze together, in harmony, is amazing but then there’s this sense of community you feel when you’re gathered together singing, laughing, making mistakes and then getting it.”
For more info or to register for a Pop-In or for the Term, go to www.mypopchoir.com.
CONSUMER FEATURE
Sing for the love of it!
NO AUDITIONS, NO EXPERIENCE, NO SOLOS, JUST JOY! Asked where the idea of My Pop Choir came from, Jacqueline says that she is like other My Pop Choir members. “I love to sing and looked for something like this; a place where I could feel comfortable, not feel judged, and sing pop and rock. Where I could forget worries and just sing. I couldn’t find it, so I created it.” Clearly
community
MY
CHOIR
If you find yourself singing in the shower, while driving the car or doing house work, you probably love to sing just for the joy if it. It also makes tough jobs more enjoyable— same goes for tough times. My Pop Choir is for people who love to sing and are looking to forget their every day cares for a full 90 minutes of entertainment a week. Choir members come from all walks of life to get together to sing their hearts out, under
the care of a Choir Master who inserts fun and laughter into every session. It’s not about becoming the best singer around, it’s about spending time with people who want to socialize, learn new songs and belt out harmonies. You even get the chance to sing live at public appearances, but only if you feel comfortable. You don’t need to audition, you don’t need to know how to read music, and you don’t have to sing alone. My Pop Choir creates a safe en-
vironment where every member feels comfortable singing without judgement. A great way to let loose and find joy in your life. My Pop Choir visionary and founder Jacqueline Curtis’ love for music and community is the basis of My Pop Choir. She’s met many participants who have found peace and joy through participation. As My Pop Choir expands, Curtis, looks forward to meeting many more new members who experience the same rewards. For more information on how you can join the winter term, please visit mypopchoir.com.
7
Work still to be done despite crime rate drop A year-end interview with Chief Bill Blair
the size of management was cut by nearly 12 per cent. Police are also looking at some positions, such as school crossing guard coordinators becoming the responsibility of civilians. “We are concerned about the escalating cost of providing policing services and we’re finding new and better ways to deliver those services,” Blair said. “We’re looking at
ANDREW PALAMARCHUK apalamarchuk@insidetoronto.com
Shootings were down in Toronto in 2013 though the number of youths involved in gun crime went up, and the overall number of murders was up. “And we’ve lost several young people, 15 and 16 years old, this year to gun violence and that’s a very concerning trend,” Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said in a year-end interview with Metroland Media Toronto. “I’m concerned when young people are making bad choices or are victimized at such an early age and quite frankly I think this is something that deepens our resolve to continue to work in communities, to get into our schools, to reach these young kids so that they might make better choices.” The city’s overall crime rate dropped 12 per cent from 2012; the number of murders slightly increased (56 in 2013, compared to 54 the previous year) though shooting homicides decreased. “There is no other city of this size in North America with such a low homicide rate,” Blair said. However, the chief admits more work needs to be done. ‘Gang culture’ “That gang culture, that culture of getting access to a gun and resolving disputes through extreme violence is something that remains a concern,” he said. “We also monitor the activities of certain gangs that are responsible for bringing firearms into communities, using violence to further their criminal enterprise and who are responsible for much of the murders and the shootings that take place in our city. We never take our eye off of them. They are the subject of large investigations.” Just two police divisions didn’t have a single homicide in 2013 (as of Dec. 30): midtown’s 53 Division and
Staff photo/ANDREW PALAMARCHUK
Toronto police Chief Bill Blair talks to The Mirror about the past year.
“
I’m concerned when young people are making bad choices or are victimized at such an early age... – Chief Bill Blair
southeast Scarborough’s 43 Division, which takes in Danzig Street, the scene of a mass shooting in 2012 that killed two and injured two dozen. The issue of how police deal with the mentally ill was put under the spotlight with the July 27 fatal shooting of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim on an empty streetcar on Dundas Street and the Dec. 13 nonfatal shooting of an 18-yearold man at the Queen subway station. “One of the great challenges in policing is that we are called in first response to people who are suffering emotional disturbance,” Blair said. “ We do about 20,000 such calls a year and the overwhelming majority of those are resolved safely and sometimes and tragically they are not resolved safely and then there are quite legitimate questions that the public asks about the police response.” Following Yatim’s death, Blair asked retired Supreme
Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci to lead a review of the Toronto Police Service’s use of force options when dealing with the emotionally disturbed. The review is ongoing. The constable who shot Yatim was charged with second-degree murder. Blair said it’s important to learn lessons from “those tragedies and then to apply those lessons to see if we could do it better the next time.” There is ongoing discussion within the police force about expanding the use of Tasers for frontline officers. “We’ve had Tasers in our service for over a decade now and they have proven to be invaluable in first response to certain crisis situations,” Blair said. “In the hands of a welltrained, properly supervised and fully accountable cop, they can save lives so I want to make sure that they are available in first response whenever they’re needed.” Police are also looking at expanding the use of video technology. “We now have video cameras in our patrol cars,” said Blair. “We’re certainly looking at the issue of body cameras at some point in the future, but we’ve got some work to do to make sure that we do it in a cost effective way.” To save money, Blair said,
every job that we do, and if a job requires either the authority of a police officer or the skill of a police officer then a police officer will do it, but not every job requires that.” Blair said the city began 2013 as one of the safest cities in North American and ended the year with a further 12 per cent reduction in crime. “That’s an accomplishment that the entire city should be
proud of. It’s something that we have achieved together and something that we’ll continue to build up,” he said. “The relatively low crime of our city is a testament to how well our neighbourhoods work and the people that live in them.”
i
For the complete in-depth story online, visit http://bit. ly/1hcAZMz
Tree debris clean-up Toronto’s city-wide tree debris removal started Friday, January 3, 2014 and is expected to take approximately eight weeks, weather permitting. The City will haul away all tree branches from front yards and roadsides and will include those that have fallen on private property if they are less than 15 cm (six inches) in diameter and have been taken to the curb. Please neatly stack limbs/ branches with butt ends towards the road for City pick-up. Place wood debris at the front edge of your property as close to the sidewalk or road as possible without blocking either. City crews will not collect large limbs (more than 15 cm or six inches in diameter) from private trees that have fallen on private property. Property owners should contact a private contractor for this. A City permit is not required to remove damaged or downed trees that are hazardous, however many trees can be saved with proper care and pruning. For residents that live in the Asian long-horned beetle (ALHB) quarantine area in Etobicoke, City crews and private contractors will dispose of this debris in an appropriate manner. Residents are advised not to take this wood out of the Federal quarantine area. Check toronto.ca/trees for more information. You may monitor the debris removal progress by checking a detailed map on the City’s web site at toronto.ca.
| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014
police
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014 |
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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014
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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014 |
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city hall
Deputy mayor: the year that was, the year that will be Norm Kelly says the budget is the most important issue leading into this election year David Nickle dnickle@insidetoronto.com Going into 2014, Toronto’s Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly has a stack of books he wants to get to: a biography of Chairman Mao, another book on the new science of persuasion, a third looking at the fraternity of former U.S. presidents. But although he is well-known as a voracious reader, Kelly hasn’t made much progress on these books and doesn’t expect to in the coming year. After a year of scandal, embarrassment and demagoguery coming out of the office of the Mayor of Toronto, the councillor from Scarborough-Agincourt who has now taken on many of the powers and responsibilities of the mayor, has his hands full. Not that he’s complaining. “It’s been very busy and the adjustment has been more comfortable than I guess I anticipated – but again, I didn’t know what to anticipate,” said Kelly, sitting down for a year-end interview.
“I’ve been blessed with a terrific team of people helping me. As a councillor, you have to select a certain number of issues to focus on, but as a mayor it has to be wider. In this position, you’re looking at a spectrum – you’ve got to be looking at everything,” he said. DE FACTO MAYOR Kelly has been working as Toronto’s de facto mayor for about a month, since Toronto City Council voted to strip Mayor Rob Ford of most of his powers and bestow them on Kelly. It’s a u n i q u e p o s i t i o n i n Canadian municipal politics: Kelly was anointed deputy mayor in the summer by Ford, after former deputy Doug Holyday left city hall to sit on the Progressive Conservative benches in Queen’s Park. Kelly took over as scandal, a police investigation and an admission of illegal drug use put Ford, and Toronto, on the world stage. In the interview, Kelly assesses
Staff photo/David Nickle
Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly.
the damage done to the city. “The executive function was beginning to erode in the last few days of the Ford administration,” said Kelly. “That has been cauterized. I think we’re well on our way, I hope, to regaining the respect of Torontonians, and maybe by
extension the international media as well.” Kelly will be leading council into an election year – in an election that Ford promised would be bloody, as he set about to run for re-election. Kelly said he hoped it wouldn’t be too great a distraction to Toronto council. “I think that there’s a genuine willingness by most members of council to focus on the business of the city,” he said, “the most important of which is the budget, and I think that people are hoping that there won’t be any further personal issues that will erupt on the sidelines. I have a sense that councillors are getting down to business and will maintain that frame of mind going forward.” Kelly said that he anticipated much of the work of council in 2014 will focus on the budget, which will be approved in late January and implemented through the year. “The budget’s going to take you well into the new year and the Billy Bishop airport issue is going to occupy almost the same territory,”
said Kelly. “After that will be... the task of implementing the budget you decided on. “And then you come into a smooth landing in July, and everybody gets off the plane and hits the streets at election time.” Beyond that, Kelly is hoping Toronto can regain a sense of leadership in the Greater Toronto Area that he believes it’s lost over the Ford years. “We are the most important city in the region and the country, and we’ve tended to back away from that leadership role, and I would like to see if we can reassert ourselves,” he said. One thing Kelly insists is that he will not seek election as mayor in 2014. “I’m very proud to represent the communities of ScarboroughAgincourt. I’ll be standing for that office, and that honour.”
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Follow City Hall reporter David Nickle on Twitter: @DavidNickle
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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014
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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014 |
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transit
TTC ushers in new year with several route changes Changes part of regular review The TTC announced it’s modifying service on many of its busiest bus and streetcar lines as of last Sunday. The 504 King, 85 Sheppard East and 25 Don Mills routes are all slated to receive a slight bump in service, which the TTC hopes will address endemic overcrowding and improve reliability throughout its surface network. The changes were made as part of a regular review on ridership and service levels. Also starting Sunday, four bus lines will undergo significant modifications to accommodate major construction projects already underway in the city. The 72 Pape bus will be temporarily divided into two routes, with the first section travelling between Pape Station to Commissioners Street, while a new 172 Cherry
route originating from St. Andrew and King Stations will meet up with the Pape service, now designated as the 72C, at the intersection of Commissioners and Cherry Street. 97 Yonge Route Buses travelling along the 97 Yonge route will also be separated into sections along Yonge Street, with a 97C service travelling on the north part of the street between Steeles Avenue and Lawrence station, and the 97A south between York Mills and Davisville stations. A rush hour 97B service will also operate between York Mills and Queens Quay during the week. The TTC is also scrapping its 90 Vaughan rush hour service west of Oakwood Avenue
and instead reducing wait times on the 90A travelling in peak periods between St. Clair West Station and Oakwood. Every four minutes Buses will now arrive every four minutes in the morning and every five minutes during the afternoon rush. The changes are because of ongoing Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction taking place along Eglinton Avenue West. Finally, a renamed 34 Eglinton bus will travel b e t we e n Eg l i n t o n a n d Kennedy stations, while the 116B Morningside bus traveling east of Kennedy towards Kingston Road and Eglinton will receive a boost in service.
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For more information about the service changes visit www.ttc.ca
cold weather heats wA record up caa switchboard number of motorists requested roadside assistance from the Canadian Automobile Association for South-Central Ontario (CAA SCO) because of the extreme weather conditions over the last several days. The auto club estimated there were 1,000 calls per hour during Tuesday morning’s frigid temperatures for assistance within the region, including Toronto, by CAA members. The daily volume of calls in winter averages around 3,000, with the number usually doubling during storm days according to the CAA SCO. transit wThecouncillors’ votes posted city’s largest advocacy group for transit users has posted the voting records of Toronto city council on several key transit funding votes ahead of a forthcoming budget vote. TTC riders posted the results of votes held between 2011 and 2013, which resulted in service cuts to the TTC and are the reason, according to
rahul gupta TO in TRANSIT the group, transit fares were hiked again this year. “Many councillors might ‘talk the talk,’ but don’t ‘walk the walk,’ states a press release posted on the group’s website. “When it comes to their voting record, many councillors continuously underfund the TTC so that fare hikes, service cuts, over-crowding and longer wait times are necessary.” This month, council will vote whether to approve a modest hike of annual operating subsidy provided to the TTC. To see the list, visit www. ttcriders.ca
tion, scheduled for 10 months from now. Underhill is a member of the jazz-funk ensemble the Shuffle Demons, best known for their 1980s’ hit ‘Spadina Bus’. Underhill’s Twitter account @richunderhill describes him as a cyclist and transit fan, and he’s making use of social media to tout his candidacy and take shots at Ford, who has also registered for the race. buses on wTTC29Articulated dufferin route spokesperson Brad Ross tweeted recently that articulated buses, which provide approximately 45 per cent more capacity than the regular fleet, will be added to the 29 Dufferin bus route by the end of the month.
demon wTheShuffle commuter parking running for mayor co-writer of an iconic pop w lot closed for reno song referencing the TTC has The TTC commuter lot at announced he is running in the 2014 mayoral election. Jazz saxophonist Richard Underhill registered his candidacy Jan. 2 for the mayorship and took to Twitter to announce his intention to best Rob Ford in this year’s elec-
Yorkdale Shopping Centre is now closed for renovation work, and not scheduled to reopen until fall 2015.
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Rahul Gupta is The Villager’s transit reporter. Reach him on Twitter: @TOinTRANSIT
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HeartCoeur is your one-stop online shop for buying vegan makeup
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ERIN HATFIELD ehatfield@insidetoronto.com
...I figured I had the knowledge and the tools to find good vegan makeup.
Carla Smith has had a longtime love affair with high-end makeup, but it came to an end when she went vegan. Now, after much trial-anderror, Smith said she has sourced out the best vegan and cruelty-free makeup and she and her partner, Bob Mersereau, have launched an online store to distribute it while raising funds to help animals. Smith became a vegan three years ago after a chance encounter with a poster promoting veganism on a streetcar. ‘Open to it’ “I guess at that time my mind was just open to it,” Smith said. “I got home and I said to Bob, ‘I want to become a vegan’ and I just switched overnight.” She and Mersereau started cutting meat and meat products out of their diet. She then started educating herself on
Staff photo/ERIN HATFIELD
Downtown west end resident Carla Smith is raising funds for a piglet shelter through her start-up venture, HeartCoeur, that distributes vegan makeup.
veganism and joined different vegan groups. After about a year, veganism started to seep into other areas of her life. She stopped purchasing leather, wool and silk fabrics and not long after, she started seeking
out vegan makeup, a difficult task because she had grown accustomed to high-end makeup. When she was in school she worked at high-end makeup counters. In 2001, she lived in Japan for two years where she
did cosmetology at a Japanese salon. “Over the years, I really started to love the expensive brands of makeup,” Smith said. “I felt like that was what it had to be in order for it to be good.”
– Carla Smith
But when she looked up her favourite brands – and their parent companies – she found they were tested on animals or had animal products in them. “I had very few options,” Smith said. “With my background, I figured I had the knowledge and tools to find good vegan makeup.” It was difficult and expensive to put together a full makeup look, and she said she had to go to different sites and pay multiple shipping charges. But after much research and trial, Smith said she has sourced out all the best vegan makeup from around the globe. In an effort to assist other vegans, and encourage nonvegans to use cruelty-free makeup. In the summer,
S m i t h a n d Me r s e r e a u launched HeartCoeur, an online shop dedicated to curating a collection of quality and fashionable, cruelty-free vegan makeup. Smith quit her job selling shipping solutions and she and Mersereau, who live near Queen and Dufferin, started the operation out of their home. Charmoverharm T h e n i n S e p t e m b e r, S m i t h a n d Me r s e r e a u launched an initiative called CharmOverHarm, a program that partners with sanctuaries or animal welfare organizations to raise funds through proceeds of makeup sales. Their first partner was Snooters Far m Animal Sanctuary. On Monday, Dec. 16 CharmOverHarm donated money to complete an emergency medical stall in the sanctuary’s pig barn.
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For more information, visit www.heartcoeur.com
| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014
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Looking for a Great Part-Time Job? BECOME A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER Free training provided! Our part-time schedules work well for semi-retirees, the self-employed, or anyone who would like evenings, weekends, and summers off. Apply now; we have bus routes in every part of Toronto!
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416.757.0565 x61924 ▪ Toronto East (East of Hwy404/DVP) 416.754.4949 x61415 Toll-free Recruiting Line: 1-877-233-4045 OR APPLY IN PERSON:
Call for our address and then come by to meet us! Must be at least 21 years of age, have a valid A,B,C,D,E,F, or full G licence, and must be proficient in english
Business Services
Articles Wanted
FREE
ANTIQUES
CONSULTATION
& Collectibles Wanted
MONEY
For Any Purpose 1st, 2nd & 3rd Mortgages
Cash for Older: Coins, Costume Jewelry, Military, Watches, Toys, Barbies, Silver, Gold, Records, Guitars, Old Pens, Lighters & Old Advertising etc.
☆ Debt consolidation ☆ Bad Credit
☆ Tax or Mortgage arrears ☆ Decrease payment
up to 70% ☆ Self-Employed ☆ No proof of income ☆ Large Commercial Funds
25 years experience. Richard & Janet 416-431-7180 416-566-7373
Ontario-Wide Financial Corp. 1-888-307-7799 www.ontario-widefinancial.com (Licence #10171)
General Help HELP WANTED! Make $1000 a week mailing brochures From Home! Helping Home Workers since 2001! Genuine Opportunity. NO experience required. Start immediately! www.themailinghub.com
Administration ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT for Con-tech Restoration in Scarborough. Seeking a strong administrative candidate to provide a range of administrative tasks for the Project Managers. Please send your resume to info@bridge point.ca or apply online at www.con-tech.ca
fax: 905
853 1765
Adjustments: Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad on the first insertion. For multiple insertions of the same ad, credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in connection with production on ads is limited to the printed space involved. Cancellations must be made by 2 p.m. one business day prior to publication date. Cancellations must be made by telephone. Do not fax or e-mail cancellations.
Real Estate Misc./Services CANCEL YOUR TIMESHARE. NO RISK program. STOP Mortgage & Maintenance Payments Today. 100% Money Back Guarantee. FREE Consultation. Call us NOW. We can Help! 1-888-356-5248
Legal Services CRIMINAL RECORD? Don’t let your past limit your career plans! Since 1989 Confidential, Fast Affordable - A+ BBB Rating EMPLOYMENT & TRAVEL FREEDOM Call for FREE INFO BOOKLET 1-8-NOW-PARDON (1-866-972-7366) www.RemoveYour Record.com
General Help
General Help
General Help
General Help
Job Title: Full Time Customer Service Representative Department: Metroland Toronto Job Summary: The Customer Service Representative is responsible for ensuring that all customer concerns through phone, email or otherwise are professionally handled and logged following the policies and procedures laid out in the Circulation Department. You will also be responsible for data entry and tracking entries made into our system as directed by the policies and procedures and by your manager. Position Accountabilities: • The Customer Service team handles a high volume of calls relating to customer issues and general inquiries • From receipt of a customer concern, the customer service representative must take ownership of the call to ensure the issue has been fully resolved in a professional and expedient manner by resolving the issue personally or ensuring the appropriate party has resolved the concern to provide superior service to our customers • Data entry into the internal Inca system • Various duties as assigned by the Department Manager What we are looking for: • Energetic and professional customer service professional • Experience in a customer service role is an asset • Ability to work and make decisions in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment • Ability to effectively listen and react with a solution • Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a positive attitude • Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task • Proficiency in MS office Please email your resume to: gceresoli@insidetoronto.com Building Equipment/ Materials STEEL BUILDINGS/METAL BUILDINGS UP TO 60% OFF! 30x40, 40x60, 50x80, 60x100, 80x100 sell for balance owed! Call: 1-800-457-2206 www.crownsteel buildings.ca
Articles for Sale
Home Renovations BUILDER/ GENERAL CONTRACTORS RESIDENTIAL/ COMMERCIAL. Finished basements. Painting. Bathrooms. Ceramic tiles. Flat roofs. Leaking basements. Brick/chimney repairs. House additions 905-764-6667, 416-823-5120
Waste Removal PETER’S DEPENDABLE JUNK REMOVAL From home or business, including furniture/ appliances, construction waste. Quick & careful!
CEILINGS repaired. Spray textures, plaster 416-677-3818 designs, stucco, drywall, Astrology/Psychics Rock Bottom HOT TUB (SPA) Covers paint. We fix them all! Best Price, Best Quality. w w w . m r s t u c c o . c a Rates! TRUE PSYCHICS For An- All shapes & Colours 416-242-8863 Available. swers, CALL NOW 24/7 a l l Toll FREE C 1-877-342-3032 Mobile: 1 - 8 6 6 - 6 5 2 - 6 8 3 7 . Want to get your business noticed? w w w. t h e c o v e r #4486 Call 1-800-743-3353 www.truepsychics.ca guy.com/sale to plan your advertising campaign today!
www.insidetoronto.com
Plumbing
EMERGENCY? Clogged drain, camera inspection Leaky pipes Reasonable price, 25 years experience Licensed/ Insured credit card accepted Free estimate James Chen 647-519-9506
Flooring & Carpeting NESO FLOORING Carpet installation starting from $1.19/ sq.ft. Hardwood, laminate at low prices. 27 yrs experience. Free Estimates. Best Price! 647-400-8198
General Help
Appliance Repairs/ Installation
General Help
COURIER POSITIONS AVAILABLE Reliable people are required immediately for part time courier positions throughout the Toronto area. The successful candidate will: • Be extremely reliable. • Own a reliable vehicle. • Be able to work the following Thursday - 2am - 2pm Monday - 10am - 5pm Great knowledge of the Toronto area is a must. You must be available to work on Thursday and the secondary day can be flexible. Some additional times may be available as needed Please email your resume to sbrown@insidetoronto.com
Professional Repairs of all brands of: Refrigeration, Stoves, Dishwashers, Washers, Dryers, Air Conditioning, & Heating. Free Estimates. Warranty, Credit cards accepted. Seniors discount. 416-616-0388
Adult Personals LOCAL HOOKUPS BROWSE4FREE 1-888-628-6790 or #7878 Mobile HOT LOCAL CHAT 1-877-290-0553 Mobile: #5015 Find Your Favourite CALL NOW 1-866-732-0070 1-888-544-0199 18+
Get Noticed.
Check Out: ELECTRICAL
HOME IMPROVEMENT Directory
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014 |
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Burton Electric Inc. 416 419-1772
Knob and tube replacement LED Lighting Aluminum wire reconditioning Permits and inspections
Pot lights Service upgrades Breakers/Panels FREE ESTIMATES
Master Electrician * License # 7001220 * Insured www.burtonelectric.ca mark.burton@burtonelectric.ca
PAINTING & DECORATING
PLUMBING BaySprings Plumbing Ltd. SERVICING ALL YOUR PLUMBING NEEDS HOLIDAY SPECIAL
$
25OFF
WITH THIS AD
EXTENDED UNTIL JANUARY 31ST
10% SENIORS DISCOUNT
416-427-0955 Metro Lic. #P20212 - Fully Insured
FREE ESTIMATES
24/7 No Extra Charges for Evenings, Weekends or Holidays
diversions
15
Sudoku (difficult)
| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014
YOUR Weekly Crossword
last week’s answers
How to do it: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3 by 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
w See answers to this week’s
puzzles in next Thursday’s edition
Driven to exceed your expectations. Ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with the Auto Insurance Claims Experience” by J.D. Power. To get your quote visit an RBC Insurance® Store, call 1-877 ROYAL 4-3 or go online at rbcinsurance.com/exceed In Queen’s Quay Terminal – Lobby Level 416-955-2550 At Bloor St. E & Yonge St. – Lower Concourse 416-974-2760
At Leslie Street & Lakeshore Blvd. E 416-461-3970 At Bay Street & Wellington St. W 416-955-5115
At Wellington St. W. and Simcoe St. 416-955-6286
I HOME I AUTO I LIFE I HEALTH I TRAVEL I BUSINESS I RETIREMENT I
TM
Home and Auto Insurance is underwritten by RBC General Insurance Company.
® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. RBC Insurance ranks highest in the proprietary J.D. Power 2013 Canadian Auto Claims Study SM. Study based on 2,458 total responses, ranking 8 insurance providers. Excludes those with claims only for glass/windshield, theft/stolen, roadside assistance or roadside assistance claims. Proprietary results based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed April-June 2013. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.
Make cash not trash!
#ShouldaUsedToronto
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, January 9, 2014 |
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