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‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row...’ ~ by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, May 1915 McCrae, a Canadian soldier, gave a voice to those who sacrificed their lives in the First World War, and his poem continues to be part of Nov. 11th Remembrance Day ceremonies
Leaders sleep on the street Business executives raise awareness for Covenant House JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com With an estimated 10,000 youth struggling to find stable housing in the city, some of Toronto’s top business leaders are stepping up to raise funds and awareness for the cause. Nearly 50 executives and other movers and shakers will spend next Thursday sleeping out in the cold, protected by only a sleeping bag for warmth and a piece of cardboard on which to lay. They will sleep on the street in downtown Toronto as part of the Covenant House Sleep Out: Executive Edition. “The event was launched last year in New York and now we’re bringing it to Toronto,” said Covenant House spokesperson Tiffany MacDonald. “We’re going to have something similar going on at 12 different Covenant Houses on the same night.” Participants in the Toronto event will include Toronto Maple Leafs’ GM Brian Burke, Venture Communications CEO and Dragon’s Den star Arlene Dickinson, Toronto police Chief Bill Blair and Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam. >>>SLEEP, page 13
Staff photo/JUSTIN SKINNER
Second World War veterans Suzie and John Stohn, at their Deer Park home Monday, recount stories of the war years.
Deer Park couple both served in Second World War JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com In 66 years of marriage, Deer Park residents John and Suzie Stohn have been through a lot together. They also went through unique experiences prior to marriage, as both served during the Second World War.
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John served with the 11th Army Field Regiment while Suzie served with the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRENS) and, while they knew one another from their days at McGill University prior to the war, it was not until after they completed their tours that the two decided to get married. After undergoing extensive train@CCMirror
ing both in Canada and England, John’s time in the army saw him battling his way through much of Europe, with a few close calls along the way. One of his many notable experiences came when he was on a ship that brought his regiment from the UK to Sicily. “We went out into the Atlantic
and nobody on the ship knew where we were going except the people running it,” he said. “We came back through into the Mediterranean and when you go past Gibraltar, everybody knows where you are. There were six or seven (German) ships there and they knew exactly where we were.” >>>SUZIE, page 3
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SickKids campaign hopes ‘Together We Will’ JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com With the launch of a new marketing campaign, the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is pulling on heartstrings in hopes of getting Torontonians to loosen their purse strings. The advertising campaign, dubbed ‘Together We Will’, highlights some of the young patients whose lives have been touched by the campaign. Together We Will includes video, print, digital and other elements geared toward reaching as wide an audience as possible. In the video ads, patients, family members and caregivers join in singing Roy Orbison’s “You Got It” while the print and digital ads will reach out to newspaper readers, subway-goers and the online community. “Together We Will isn’t a new line for us but we wanted to give it its day,” said SickKids Foundation director of marketing Lori Abbott. “Instead of a tagline below the logo in our ads, this turns it into a
‘It’s amazing seeing all the families here.’ – Alexa Samuels headline.” Abbott said Together We Will will serve primarily as an advertising campaign to remind Torontonians of the good work the hospital does to help children dealing with serious medical conditions. As with many of SickKids’ campaigns, Abbott said Together We Will will likely resonate most of all with moms 30 and older but feels the new campaign will touch a larger array of people. “We really think this will speak to women and men,” she said. “That’s what we try to do with all our campaigns, but I think this one will do that more than maybe we have in the past.” The campaign’s goal – particularly as the holiday giving season approaches – is simply to keep SickKids front-of-mind for those deciding which organizations to support through donations.
Staff photo/JUSTIN SKINNER
Antonio Albino, 4, left,and his mother Nova join in the sing-a-long of ‘You Got It’ during the launch of a new Sick Kids Foundation awareness campaign at the hospital last week.
By shining a light on individual patients, it drives home just how important the work done at SickKids is. “We want to share the stories of
courage and determination faced by our patients,” said SickKids Foundation president and CEO Ted Garrard. “We want to do everything for these kids but we can’t
do it alone.” The campaign was launched at SickKids Hospital on Thursday, Nov. 1, with patients, hospital staff and a spate of others packing the hospital’s movie theatre for a viewing. Annex resident Alexa Samuels, who appears with daughter Annie Desimini in one of the video ads, said the campaign certainly moved her, particularly since Annie has undergone several procedures at SickKids. “It was emotional on the day of the filming it and it was emotional here (at the launch,)” Samuels said. “It’s amazing seeing all the families here.” Samuels and Annie’s father, Frank Desimini, agreed that the decision to help the hospital with the campaign was an easy one. “We’ve been lucky because SickKids has been very helpful every step of the way,” Desimini said. The print and video campaigns will run from Monday, Nov. 12 through the end of the year, with the digital campaign going live on Friday, Nov. 9 at www.sickkidsfoundation.com/together
Suzie served as a WREN coder replacing men who went overseas >>>from page 1 Fortunately, his ship was given cover by Canadian and British planes that flew over offering protection and keeping the German ships in check. On one such flyover, however, the Allied planes wound up being tailed by German aircraft. Though the Canadian ships were troop transports and did not have anti-aircraft guns, those on the ships did what they could to help out. “Each troop had things like Bren Guns – light arms – and the major damage that happened to our ship was caused by one of our own people who was shooting a Bren Gun and shot our aerial off,” John said. The Canadians landed safely in Sicily, which was in Allied hands at the time. The 11th Army Field Regiment was repeatedly called in to spell other regiments, and John recalled that his most nerve-wracking experience came when Allied forces were trying to hold ground near Monte Cassino.
“A New Zealand regiment had a gun position just south of Cassino,” he said. “Everything was going just fine with them until (the Allied forces) decided to bomb a position just north of Cassino.” The Germans had taken over a monastery there and were using it to spy on Allied troops. When Allied planes flew over to bomb the German soldiers, a malfunction on one of the planes led to disaster. “Through a malfunction, the bombs fell out of one of the planes and landed on the New Zealand regiment that was on Mount Trocchio,” John recalled. “When the next planes came and saw where the bombs had landed, they thought that must have been the target and they dropped their bombs there, too.” The 11th Army Field Regiment was called in to replace the New Zealand regiment, which John said marked his darkest days in
the service. With Axis troops able to look down on the Canadian soldiers from above, the position was difficult to hold and led to the lives of a number of soldiers. “That was six bad weeks,” he said. He was also one of a few servicemen tabbed to split from the rest of his regiment at one point in hopes of ambushing German soldiers before they could attack the marching line of Allied troops. Fortunately, that plan was nixed before John and a few fellow troops were sent off. “We would have been completely cut off from any other Canadians and anyone else,” he said. “Our chances of getting out of there was going to be absolutely zero.” While he was never wounded, he did contract malaria while sleeping out in a rainy field in Italy, recovering in both a Canadian hospital and a British convalescent camp.
After VE Day, John was one of a group of troops tasked with preventing Axis soldiers from crossing the Zuiderzee to get back to Germany. While there, he and his Sergeant Major enlisted to continue fighting on the Pacific front. They were given a 30-day leave before they were to be sent off to fight again and received some good news before he was shipped off again. “On the 30th day of my leave, it was V-J Day, so the war was over on that front, too,” he said. Suzie served as a WREN coder, doing her part to aid the war effort by allowing more Canadian servicemen to serve overseas. “Our job was to replace the sailors serving (in Canada) so they could go to sea,” she said. “I didn’t go to sea myself, nor did I have any desire to go to sea.” Her contributions – and those of her fellow WRENs – were nonetheless invaluable to the Allied efforts and vital in opening the door for
women to be able to serve in the military. Like her husband, Suzie enlisted largely because it felt like the right thing to do at the time. “We felt we were doing something important for the country,” she said. “We knew it was important because we were serving a purpose.” While the Stohns met prior to the Second World War and maintained contact throughout, they were primarily just friends until they were reunited after the conflict ended. “We dated a bit before, but we weren’t engaged or anything during the war,” Suzie said. “I think I always knew, though, that he was the one I was going to marry.” Suzie will march with the Wrens at City Hall as part of the city’s Remembrance Day services on Sunday, Nov. 11. ■ Ceremonies will take place in downtown Toronto at both Old City Hall and Queen’s Park beginning at 10:45 a.m.
| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012
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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012 |
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Opinion Ian Proudfoot Marg Middleton Peter Haggert Antoine Tedesco Warren Elder Jamie Munoz
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Keeping the memory alive I
s recognition of our veterans a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’? It shouldn’t be, but it’s a question worth asking. When it comes to Remembrance Day observance, there has been a noticeable shift in recent years. And it’s an inevitable one. Fewer and fewer veterans from earlier conflicts such as the Second World War and the Korean War are with us. Given the passage of time, there is always a risk of the importance of such observances being diluted for the next generation. This can’t happen. Too much has been sacrificed. But with the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, in which Canadians are playing and have played a significant role, we have fresh, contemporary examples of the struggles our veterans endure – both during and after they serve. There is greater public awareness of post-battlefield conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that our veterans must our view cope with. The good news is Canadians Do more to do have strong opinions on help all who these issues. A recent Nanos survey says 94 per cent of serve Canada Canadians believe Canadians have an obligation to ensure modern veterans find meaningful employment after they’ve finished their service. Another 88.9 per cent believe that all veterans, whenever and wherever they served, should be honoured on Remembrance Day, even though 82.1 per cent of Canadians think primarily of veterans of the First and Second World War. And, 51.8 per cent believe the support veterans receive for conditions such as PTSD is inadequate. The survey was released by Commissionaires, an organization dedicated to ensuring “meaningful employment opportunities” for former members of the Canadian Forces and other organizations dedicated to safety and security. Issues such as employment opportunities for veterans aren’t necessarily front of mind. But they must be part of a growing realization that any investment in our country’s defence budget must take into greater consideration the effects – physical, mental, psychological – on those who serve our country. The survey results suggest we value the contributions of our veterans and believe more should be done for them. That’s good. Getting our voices heard to enable meaningful change for our modern veterans is the next step. Reach out to your MP to make it known how you feel. While always remembering the sacrifices of the past, we must also ensuring ongoing, stable support for our modern veterans.
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Re:‘Rising fees impact youth sports,’ Special Report, Oct. 25. The politicians who have been elected to council and the Toronto District School Board would have us believe there is no money available to make these community resources available for the people of Toronto. They want us to believe that individual users and teams will have to pay more to use our public facilities. That is not true. The money to make public facilities available for free, or at reasonable rates, is available in Toronto. If we want to continue to have healthy communities all across Toronto, the people of Toronto will have to speak up so politicians do not allocate our community resources only to those who have the ability to pay their ever increasing fees. We are a city that has been blessed with many public facilities. Let’s not make these available only to the highest bidder. Allan Baker
Love of football hurting Mayor Rob Ford Is it fair to say that we’re into a crisis of confidence in big municipal government in eastern Canada? Or if not government, then mayors? Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay lent some truth to this this week when quit his job over allegations of corruption within his party — allegations he firmly denies. And here in Toronto ... well, Rob Ford’s not resigning over corruption allegations. But there are a couple of bus-loads of commuters – who stood out in the rain last Thursday after their Finch Avenue buses were rerouted to provide shelter to Ford’s football team – who probably wish he would step down. The question for Mayor Ford is just what job he should quit.
THE CITY
david nickle
And really, the best thing that he could do is follow Tremblay’s example – and quit coaching football. As absurd as it sounds, the gridiron has been the root of much of Mayor Ford’s undoing. While in interviews, he’s claimed the biggest problems in his first two years have to do with reading and talking on the phone while driving — the biggest problem has been what also seems to be his greatest love. Pending a judge’s ruling, the mayor could lose his job over the way he com-
ported himself around his football charity. In the meantime, it’s made him into a truant at council, as he leaves to coach his team at Etobicoke’s Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School while council and his committee deal with key city business. And now, this business with the TTC buses that were re-routed. As I write this, it’s unclear how exactly passengers ended up being ordered off the buses so they could be re-routed. Ford says he didn’t do it. But it becomes a matter of appearances. Ford has shown in all sorts of ways that his team is a priority for him. At times, it seems as though it’s a bigger priority than his constituents. It may well be that this
isn’t so. But it also shouldn’t appear so. That is something that Tremblay understood as he resigned from office. Mayor Ford shouldn’t resign from office over his love of football. But he should recognize that it has become more than a distraction from his day job. It has cumulatively destroyed confidence in his office. Football has been a demanding mistress for Mayor Ford, and he needs to call it off – and renew his vows with the Torontonians who elected him. n David Nickle is the Mirror’s City Hall columnist. His column appears every Thursday. Contact him at dnickle@insidetoronto.com
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■ Friday, Nov. 9
A Concert of Remembrance WHEN: 7:30 to 9 p.m. WHERE: Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. CONTACT: www.9sparrowsarts.org Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation and Christ Church Deer Park present A Concert of Remembrance.
■ Monday, Nov. 12
DXTalks Sons of Architecture Series WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Design Exchange, 234 Bay St. CONTACT: Rosa Ricci, 416-216-2127, rosa@dx.org COST: $10/free for DX Members Talk highlights the influence of architectural icons and explore how their efforts have paved the way for future generations to explore and live in the world of Design. Son of Richard Neutra, who is considered to have been one of modernism’s most significant architects, Dion Neutra took over his father’s practice in 1970. Dion has been instrumental in furthering his father’s legacy and countless preservation efforts in California.
■ Saturday, Nov.17
Cavalcade of Lights WHEN: 7 to 11 p.m. WHERE: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St. W. CONTACT: 416-392-CITY (2489), www. toronto.ca/cavalcade COST: Free Toronto lights up the holiday season with the 46th annual Cavalcade of Lights with seasonal lights, fireworks and musical performances, featuring: recording artists Dragonette, pop/rock
DAY OF THE DEAD
vocalist Suzie McNeil, R&B artist Sean Jones, rising star Alyssa Reid, fireworks by Circus Orange and a “Sno Ball” dance party.
■ Wednesday, Nov. 21
Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Fairmont Royal York Hotel, 100 Front St. W. CONTACT: Linda Nishida, www.vanaqua.org/ chowder-chowdown COST: $45+HST for adults; $40+HST for students Join the fight for sustainable seafood as 12 of Toronto’s top chefs go headto-head for the title of 2012 Ocean Wise Chowder Chowdown Champion. Taste delectable original chowders paired with craft beer, and vote for your favourite, all in support of sustainable seafood. Purchase your tickets early at www.vanaqua.org/chowder-chowdown to avoid disappointment.
■ Ongoing
Eglinton Community Centre Eglinton Community centre, 160 Eglinton Ave. E., offers a variety of unique courses and classes at various costs. Contact www.centraleglinton.com Sacred Circle Dance WHEN: 10:30 a.m. Saturdays WHERE: Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor St. W. CONTACT: Joan Warren, 416466-9292 COST: Donation, $8 Traditional and modern dances to a variety of world music. No experience or partner is needed.
Staff photos/DAN PEARCE
REMEMBERING THOSE WHO HAVE DIED: Left, Etienne Luviano, 4, makes a statue during the Mexican Day of the Dead festival Saturday at Harbourfront. Above, a display at the festival.
Compassionate Friends Support Group Toronto Chapter WHEN: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month WHERE: Calvin
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Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Ave. A support group for people who have lost a child. Compassionate Friends works like a 12-step program, although
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it is not actually a recovery program. Counsellors will sometimes join the meetings to provide more specific grief support.
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My name is Angelina. I have been delivering the mirror and flyers since early 2009. I took the route for the sole purpose of outside cardioexercise,(It’smuchmorefunthandoing cardio at the gym). The hours are flexible and rewarding, and fit well with my regular work schedule. I always meet someone from my neighbourhood each time I go out to deliver. Everyone loves the coupons and free samples! When I have free time I enjoy cooking, working out and watching MMA/UFC.
| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012
It’s Happening
Arts & Entertainment
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012 |
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My Pop choir offers members something to sing about JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Though life in the city tends to get hectic, a group of about 40 Torontonians has found a place where they can get together once a week and sing their worries away. The group gathers Mondays at Lawrence Park Community Church at 2180 Bayview Ave. to take part in My Pop Choir. The organization offers fun choral singing lessons – with a focus on pop music – for people of any and all levels of training and ability. The Lawrence Park branch is one of several My Pop Choir locations, with others in Etobicoke, Ancaster, Georgetown, Burlington and Oakville. “It got started just to meet a need,” said Lawrence Park branch choirmaster Kent Andrews. “It dovetails with a culture that’s moving more toward singing experiences with shows like Glee and the Sing-Off.” A big part of the appeal, Andrews said, is that the choir is open to anyone and is geared toward ensuring the members have a good time while improving their singing skills “They may not be musicians, but they have a love of singing,” he said. My Pop Choir offers three terms a year, in spring, fall and winter. Each term consists of 10 sessions, which are generally about 90 minutes
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long apiece. As the term progresses, the choirs work their way through a variety of pop music tunes, each of which are simple enough to get through in one to two lessons. The choir is split into two vocal groups so they can harmonize and add a little extra flair to favourites such as Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” the Beatles’ “In My Life” or Toto’s “Africa.” Andrews said the key to the choir’s success is that everyone from experienced singers to those who have never sung outside of their own car is placed on equal footing. “The idea behind it is that there are no auditions and people are never pointed out if they miss a note, they’re never embarrassed, they’re just allowed to come in and sing,” he said. That allows each individual singer to blossom within the group. “I had one woman in one
of the choirs who had a very difficult situation,” Andrews said. “She was a single mom who works full-time and this made her so much more confident. She told me recently ‘I didn’t even know I had a voice.’” Suzanne Coxon and her daughter Zoe have taken part in three sessions and plan to keep coming back for more. “We both really like to sing and Zoe’s involved with other choirs, but those are more serious and this one’s more fun-oriented,” said Suzanne Coxon. For her part, Zoe enjoys being exposed to new music. My Pop Choir is about to finish its fall session with an All-Choir Sing, in which the various branches join together for a huge show in Oakville. The winter session will start on Monday, Jan. 7. For more information on My Pop Choir, visit www. mypopchoir.com
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Choir master Kent Andrews, left, and the Lawrence Park branch of My Pop Choir rehearse Monday at Lawrence Park Community Church.
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Good news for Canadian Cancer Society Corporate Accounts Manager Laura Nagasaka, holding cheque at left, and Toronto Community News advertising sales staff make a cheque presentation to Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario division Corporate and Community Partnerships Manager Susanne Morphet, right. The funds were raised through the sales of a special Breast Cancer Awareness advertising feature.
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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012 |
8
Politics
Murray kicks off leadership bid with five-point plan
Funds approved for parkland purchase
JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com
DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com
Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray has thrown his hat into the ring in the race for the Ontario Liberal Party leadership. Murray announced his intention to run for the leadership on Sunday, just over two weeks after current Premier Dalton McGuinty said he was leaving the position. Murray has outlaid a five-point plan he said will help strengthen Ontario, building on the previous government’s commitment to education while strengthening its stance on a variety of other issues. “I looked at where we’re going in government, the directions we need to keep going in and the directions we need to change,” he said. His plan, which can be found at www.renewliberal.ca, includes a revenue-neutral tax shift he said will lead to lower taxes for those with an income of less than $85,000, nomoney-down university and college tuition, a streamlined provincial government and ideas that will give cities more autonomy and regions more control over energy policies. The tax shift, he said, would rejig the system to benefit low and middle-income earners.
‘Students who choose to (take advantage of the plan) won’t have to pay money up front.’ ~ Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray
GLEN MURRAY
“It’s skewed toward people who make more than $80,000,” he said, pointing to the use of RRSPs as a tax haven, which many families on a budget find difficult to take advantage of. “I want to transform this kind of thing and replace them with things like a 15 per cent child RRSP credit and a 10 per cent child care credit.” He also proposed tax cuts for small businesses. His tuition plan would, he said, open up post-secondary schooling
to those who cannot access college or university due to finances. “Students who choose to (take advantage of the plan) won’t have to pay money up front,” he said. “Once they graduate and get a job – a good-paying job – they can make contributions against their income.” If elected, he also plans on giving cities the right to opt out of the Ontario Municipal Board, a boon for those who have seen OMB decisions lead to out-of-character and out-of-scale developments in their communities. Additionally, he wants to impose rules stating developers looking to buy provincially-owned property would have to meet strict standards in terms of supplying green space. “We’re still fighting for 11 Wellesley,” he said, referring to a parcel of open land in downtown
Toronto the province is looking to sell to developers. “If (developers) want to buy land, they have to find other land to replace it.” He also wants to build stronger cities through improved infrastructure and amenities, including light rapid transit and subways where applicable. Murray’s plan will see energy decisions placed in the hands of regional bodies instead of a more centralized model. He pointed to a heated battle in Scarborough regarding windmills. “If they don’t want windmills, we need to see what they do want – thermal, traditional, wind or solar,” he said. “We need to inform them which technologies can work in their community and the esthetics and health impacts of those choices.” Murray pointed to his experience in both the public and private sectors in terms of his ability to do the job. As mayor of Winnipeg, he turned around a city that was saddled with extremely high debt and high tax rates. “We need to tackle the debt of the (Liberal) party and I think I’ll be the only one in this race who’s run a government who’s tackled those problems.”
Toronto’s government management committee has given the go-ahead to start talking about buying a portion of the long-empty lot at 11 Wellesley Street for local parkland. The committee authorized the use of Section 37 funds to buy a portion of the 2.1 acre site — one of the last sizable sites of vacant land in the downtown core. The land was originally earmarked for the site of a new ballet and opera house in downtown Toronto, but when government funding evaporated, the site stayed vacant. The provincial government through Infrastructure Ontario put the site on the real estate market and is collecting bids. Local councillor Kristyn WongTam came to the committee along with community members asking for authorization to enter into negotiations for the parkland. Initially, the community got a rough ride from some members of the committee. Committee chair Paul Ainslie suggested that with land values soaring in the downtown, residents living in the city core shouldn’t necessarily expect parkland.
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Politics
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LISA QUEEN lqueen@insidetoronto.com With a handful of teachers protesting outside, veteran Don Valley West MPP Kathleen Wynne launched her bid for the leadership of Ontario’s Liberals Monday, painting herself as the best candidate to reconcile her party with teachers and civil servants furious with her government’s public sector wage freeze. The Liberals have to rebuild nowtense relationships with teachers and public sector workers and Wynne pledged to sit down with them to find common ground while recognizing the need to balance the government’s financial books in light of Ontario’s economic challenges. But while Wynne stressed the need to repair partnerships, she didn’t say she would repeal wage freeze legislation if she is elected leader at the Jan. 25 leadership convention in Toronto. A handful of teachers protested
the legislation outside the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre near Wynford Drive and Don Mills Road after they were asked to leave the hall where about 300 Wynne supporters listened to the former education minister announce her leadership bid. Scarborough teacher Istvan Szentes said Wynne has been a supporter of teachers in the past and educators hope she would support repealing the legislation. Inside, Wynne spoke against the politics of divisiveness, saying she wants to communicate with and bring together business leaders, young people, environmentalists, city dwellers and rural residents. “I know government can be fiscally responsible and still be a force for good,” she said, adding middle ground is the firmest place to stand. “I will keep working to bring people together to find that common ground. Politics is not, by definition,
vicious or polarized.” Standing beside Wynne on stage was Willowdale MPP David Zimmer. He later told The Mirror he is supporting Wynne because she is in the best position to reach out to teachers and public sector workers, she has the ability to understand policy and effectively communicate it to Ontarians and she is the best candidate to fight off political threats from NDP leader Andrea Horwath. Until she resigned her cabinet position last Friday in advance of her leadership bid, Wynne was minister of municipal affairs and housing. First elected to Queen’s Park in 2003, Wynne served as transportation minister from 2010 to 2011 and as education minister from 2006 to 2011. She is the second candidate to enter the leadership race. Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray threw his hat into the ring Sunday.
Staff photo/NICK PERRY
Kathleen Wynne announces her candidacy for the Ontario Liberal Party at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in North York Monday.
Real estate
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Elly and Sonja are your experts in local print & digital advertising. For information on advertising in the City Centre Mirror contact Elly Triantafillou
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sandrews@insidetoronto.com Elly Triantafillou (left) and Sonja Andrews (right) The Real Estate Account Executives at the Toronto Community News
| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012
Wynne stresses need to repair partnerships with teachers
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012 |
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BACKING ONTO GOLF COURSE!!! Large detached 4 bdrm 2 storey, finished basement, huge 50’ x 199’ lot! Located close to all conveniences, quick access to Hwys, many upgrades thru-out, Well maintained home Must be seen for $799,900!!
KEELE & 401!! Fabulous detached 4+1 bdrm 2 storey, double garage, interlock, large verandah, double door entry, centre hall plan, 4 wshrms, combined living and dining rm, cathedral ceiling, gas fireplace, gleaming hardwood floors in family rm, wonderful family size kitchen, w/o to large deck & heated inground pool, gorgeous prof. landscaped lot, finished bsmnt and many extras for only $799,000!!
Rare 5 bdrm 2 storey on a beautiful lot. Just steps to Gametwood Park along the Etobicoke boarder. Gorgeous family rm with w/o to private fenced lot 20’x40’, inground pool. Huge bedrooms and principal rooms, renovated baths, fabulous country kitchen with s.s appliances and breakfast area, large finished basement 2nd kitchen & 2 bedrooms, gleaming hardwood flrs. and much more. $749,000!!
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Royal York Gardens detached 3 bdrm bungalow on large lot. Open concept living & dining rm, modern kitchen, gleaming hardwood floors, separate side entrance to finished basement, ideal for entertaining or possible in-law suite only $549,900!!
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ROYAL YORK / EVANS!! Wonderful detached brick 2 storey full of charm and character. This home has been totally renovated, new electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, nicely finished trim & hardwood thruout! Finished basement with bar, new roof(2011), new windows(2011) furnace(2009) fully fenced yard with Gazebo, and many extras for only $519,000!!
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In the heart of Woodbridge quiet enclave, steps to Market Lane.Totally renovated open concept living room, gleaming hardwood flr, walkout to patio, formal dining, amazing custom kitchen granite countertop, stainless steel appliances, California shutters, potlights, finished basement, truly a masterpiece, must be seen only $499,900!!
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Totally renovated 3+1 bdrm 2 storey, Stucco & Stone exterior, Spacious open concept living & dining rm, gorgeous kitchen with granite countertop, s/s appl, ceramic & laminate floors thru-out finished basements, new 2 car garage, plus many extras, new roof, new washrooms, New oak satircase with steel rail, hi-eff. furnace & much more for $589,900!!
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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012
SELL Your Home FASTER and for MORE MONEY!
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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012 |
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Community
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the racetrack and putting them in a Toronto casino would destroy the historic racetrack. Nick Eaves, president of Woodbine Entertainment Group, told the committee at least one of the two casinos planned for the GTA should be integrated with the racetrack. “We believe that being integrated into the OLG’s new plan is the only way to turn the risk into a real opportunity,” he said, pointing out that Woodbine provides 7,500 jobs locally and 15,000 across the province. The committee also heard about the potential social and health costs of locating a major casino. Dr. Nigel Turner, from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, has studied gambling addiction and said a major casino would definitely help create more problem gamblers. “There is considerable evidence that casinos have a negative impact on the health of individuals,” he said, pointing out that people with gambling problems often experience depression, addiction to other drugs and alcohol, and have a greater potential for suicide. “When a person empties out their financial resources... a lot of people think suicide’s their only option,” said Turner.
RISE UP! PRAYER, PROTEST, AND HEALING Explore the nature of God’s unbounded love. Free lecture All are Welcome
ROM will use infrastructure grant for roof repairs the heritage building that’s covered by the copper roof,” said Brian McCrady, vice president of capital development and facilities. “We will determine what the scope of the work will be and then get moving forward in the spring. Our guess right now is that at least part of the copper roof will be repaired at that time.” The ROM, he said, was “very definitely” happy to be first on the
list of the joint federal-provincial infrastructure program, which was announced Nov. 5. More than $220 million, funded almost evenly between the federal and provincial governments, will be doled out to improve bridges, highways, roads, wastewater infrastructure, disaster mitigation and cultural sites. More funding announcements are expected to follow imminently. - Norm Nelson
International speaker, Robin Hoagland, is a practitioner and teacher of Christian Science healing and a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship.
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The Royal Ontario Museum has the distinction of being the first on the list to receive a grant from a new joint federal-provincial funding program. The $1.4 million won’t be used to add to their renowned collection, but instead for something a little more mundane – roof repairs. “We’re looking at the roofing areas that are on the east side of the building, facing Queen’s Park, specifically
“When you’re in a sleeping bag for 10 or 12 hours, you experience not just the weather elements but also elements of street life and how you’re put into harm’s way,” she said. Wong-Tam speaks from experience, having spent time living on the streets, couch-surfing and bouncing from place to place as a youth. “For me, it’ll be a reminder of what it’s like, though for a lot of people it will be their first time learning what life is like on the street,” she said. For its inaugural Sleep Out event, Toronto’s Covenant House was aiming to find 25 participants and bring in $300,000 in pledges. So far, it was easily surpassed the first of those goals, with 49 sleepers participating and raising upward of $250,000 to date. Given that the shelter receives some 80 per cent of its annual funding through donations, it hopes the momentum for the event keeps building. To make a donation to the Covenant House Sleep Out: Executive Edition, visit www.covenanthouse. ca
BAYVIEW AVE
The question of whether to invite casino operators to set up one or more gambling halls in Toronto will be going to public consultations – but Toronto’s Executive Committee has voted to ask for a better sense of what the city will get out of the deal as those consultations occur. The motion came from Mayor Rob Ford’s Executive Committee after a day of deputations on a report by Toronto’s City Manager Joe Pennachetti, and an accompanying report from Ernst & Young. The report extolled general economic benefits for Toronto, and laid out a tantalizing proposal for revenue sharing that could garner as much as $168 million a year for Toronto, or as little as $18 million. At the top end, Pennachetti told the committee that could mean an end to the city’s perennial financial woes. But when it came turn for Rod Phillips from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation to speak, he wouldn’t commit to the high end of the revenue sharing plan – which would be one of the sweetest deals any municipality on the continent
receives. “We want to have a discussion with the city manager,” said Phillips, who said the revenuesharing arrangement would likely be negotiated before council voted in March. Councillors both on and off the committee doubted the city could pull it off. “The revenue numbers are being forecast on the basis that we can steal gamblers from Asia – then they’re going to land in Vancouver, and we’re saying that they won’t stop at the Casinos in Vancouver, skip Las Vegas and come to Toronto,” said Trinity-Spadina Councillor Adam Vaughan. “That’s the model. And if there’s anything wrong with that model, we’ll make less money.” Willowdale Councillor and committee-member David Shiner said he needed a clearer picture of the finances before he could even consider supporting it. Nearly 50 deputations came to talk to the committee – a good many of them workers and management from the Woodbine racetrack in northern Etobicoke. While the OLG has made it clear it would prefer a downtown location, management at Woodbine said removing slot machines from
>>>from page 1 The participants will get a glimpse into what life is like for young men and women for whom sleeping on the street is a daily reality. Of course, even those who spend the night in the cold will do so knowing they have a warm house to return to, access to good food and a strong support system. “There’s no way they’re ever going to know what (homeless and underhoused) kids go through,” MacDonald said. “Every day for (homeless and underhoused) kids starts with them not having something to eat, somewhere to sleep, somewhere to be safe.” Covenant House provides muchneeded shelter and a variety of supports to youth from all demographics, many of whom have been forced out of their homes due to abuse or neglect. Wong-Tam said she hopes the Sleep Out opens the eyes of participants to what it’s like having to deal with the elements and other aspects of street life.
YONGE ST
DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com
Sleep Out has raised $250,000
SHEPPARD AVE HWY 401
EGLINTON AVE ST CLAIR AVE
| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012
How would Toronto benefit from a casino? Executive Committee hears OLG revenue-sharing deal
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012 |
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Community
Toronto led North America in post-war subway construction Surplus fare revenue during war years funded transit growth RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com For the three decades following the Second World War, Toronto led all of North America when it came to subway expansion, says an urban historian. Virtually all of Toronto’s existing subway infrastructure – more than 50-kilometres of track – was built between the late 1940s and 1970s, including the Yonge, Bloor-Danforth, University and Spadina lines, says Jay Young who has extensively studied the subway system. “Toronto was not the only city building subway infrastructure, but it certainly was leading the pack during this time,” said Young. Young, who did his dissertation at York University on the history of the TTC subway, presented his findings to an group of transit aficionados at the Spadina House museum near Casa Loma late last month. For his presentation, entitled Subway Life and Transit Expansion during Toronto’s Automobile Age, the historian and co-founding editor of Activehistory.ca detailed
the subway network’s evolution making use of archival documents and illustrations. The talk was part of an ongoing discussion series in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Ac c o rd i n g t o Yo u n g , Queen Elizabeth herself inspected the city’s first subway cars in 1943, the year before the inaugural line below Yonge Street – spanning southwards to Union Station from Eglinton – opened. And at some point, there was some consideration to name what became known as Osgoode station after Queen Elizabeth. Building the Yonge line might never have taken place had the TTC not enjoyed a surplus in fare revenue which had risen dramatically over the war years, said Young. “If not for saved revenue during war it’s really unlikely the Yonge subway would have been built soon after, if at all,” said Young during his hour-plus presentation. “Especially considering the resistance of the city to help pay for it.” Fro m t h e 1 9 5 0 s a n d onwards, however, Toronto governments became more
supportive of new transit as a way to relieve traffic congestion as well as provide connections for those migrating to the outer suburbs of Scarborough and Etobicoke, which had resulted, according to Young, in a coverage area six times larger than before. To finance the majority of the costs for the BloorDanforth and University subways the city’s metropolitan council opted to impose in 1958 a property tax for all residents which marked the first time taxpayer revenues would pay for expansion and not fares. Young said the first metro council chair Frank Gardiner – for whom the expressway is named – should be recognized for spearheading this shift which was often opposed by irate rate-payer associations. One such group from Southern Etobicoke, concerned the transit improvements would only benefit metropolitan Toronto, unsuccessfully opposed the property tax levy all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. “Gardiner played a key role in the policy shift because he realized the limits of automobiles,” said
Young. “Transit was a more economical and efficient way to move mass numbers of people.” In the 1970s the appetite for transit funding neared its peak and with the 1972 cancellation of the Spadina Expressway, Ontario premier Bill Davis promised more money for subway construction – which also included paying for station costs for the first time. But since the opening of the Spadina line in 1978, less than 15-kilometres have been added to the TTC’s infrastructure. Meanwhile the city’s existing lines face capacity issues and disgruntled commuters grow more frustrated over delays and overcrowding. And, just like in the past, the question remains who will pay for new projects. But Young, who first became enamoured with the Toronto subway system after moving from the Niagara area seven years ago, said he believes today’s advocates can take inspiration from the past’s “legacy of success”. “Hopefully the history will continue to inspire people to fight for better transit,” he said.
Staff photo/NICK PERRY
Quinn Johnson of Northern Secondary School carries the ball past Faisal Tahiri of Richview Collegiate during a senior boys football playoff game at Birchmount Statium Friday afternoon. Northern defeated Richview 21-7.
Northern and Central Tech in TDSB football final The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) senior Tier 1 football final will be fought by two midtown schools – Northern Secondary and Central Tech – Friday at Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough. The winner of the do-ordie game will move on to a Metro Bowl quarter-final game against the Toronto Catholic District School Board winner Thursday, Nov. 15 at Birchmount Stadium. Both midtown schools won their semifinal games last Friday at Birchmount Stadium – Northern 21-7 over Etobicoke’s Richview Collegiate and Central over fellow midtown rival
Lawrence Park 8-7. All four teams played in the super competitive west division, finishing the regular season. JUNIOR: This week’s TDSB semifinal games will be played today at Birchmount Stadium as follows: • noon: Lawrence Park versus Richview; • 2 p.m.: Northern versus Sir John A Macdonald. Here’s last week’s quarterfinal results: • Richview 31, Leaside 22; • Sir John A Macdonald 42, Central Tech 7; • Lawrence Park 18, East York CI 14; • Northern 28, Malvern 8.
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and Air Cadets. It is a national program for young Canadians aged 12 to 18 who are interested in participating in a variety of fun, challenging and rewarding activities while learning about the sea, army and air activities of the Canadian Forces. Cadets are encouraged to become
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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012
CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012 |
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Transit
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Last ditch effort by Mayor Ford fails to derail LRT draft approval Rahul gupta rhupta@insidetoronto.com A last ditch effort by Mayor Rob Ford was not enough to
prevent Toronto City Council from at last approving a draft agreement for four light rail transit lines for the city. By a 30-11 margin, LRT sup-
porters voted overwhelmingly to approve the framework of an agreement between the city, the TTC and Metrolinx regarding the lines.
While the final details are yet to be completed Nov. 1’s vote at city council ensures the LRT lines will get built, said St. Paul’s Councillor Joe Mihevc, who supported the draft agreement. Mihevc said not approving the deal could have meant the $8.4-billion allocated for the four lines – Eglinton Crosstown, Finch West, Sheppard East and a replacement for the Scarborough RT – could have been jeopardized. “If we were to say no to it today or defer, the happiest woman in the GTA would have been Hazel McCallion,” said Mihevc in reference to the outspoken Mississauga mayor’s public desire to expand transit in her city. Mihevc, who was deputy chair of the TTC under former mayor David Miller years, slammed Ford and his allies for attempting to defer the vote. “They were working the back of the room, trying to see who was in, counting bums in the seats,” Mihevc said. “They were getting ready to act.” TTC Chair Karen Stintz
said negotiations would continue thanks to the city’s final approval and without requiring a need to re-open the vote in council chambers. “This is a draft agreement and it was never intended to come back here,” said Stintz. “Council was never intended to vote clause-by-clause on agreements negotiated between the city and provincial government.” She echoed Mihevc in saying funding for the projects might have been in jeopardy had a majority of council not voted in favour, and said she had received a message from the provincial government indicating as much. “I received a note from the minister saying if we deferred this item then the province would consider the city not serious,” Stintz said. Under the terms of the framework, the city approved a process first announced at the beginning of October in which Metrolinx would oversee construction of the lines through an alternate financing process via the private sector, and the TTC use its existing infrastructure
to control operations of the four lines. Concerns the provincial transit agency could have a final say in scope changes and the final number of stations were addressed last week to the satisfaction of the TTC, Stintz said. But that wasn’t good enough for Willowdale Councillor David Shiner, who said the lines can still be cancelled by the province over the city’s objections – especially if there is a change in government next year. O n t a r i o P r o g re s s i v e Conservative leader Tim Hudak has made no secret of his preference for subways over LRTs. But St. Paul’s Councillor Josh Matlow said Torontonians should be assured the projects, which were first funded in 2009 then cancelled by Ford in 2010 before ultimately being restored as a priority by council in March, will actually be completed. “By signing this binding agreement, we make it far more difficult for any future government to tear it apart,” Matlow said.
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Reasonable decision on Ombudsman Again? The frustrations of our mayor once again spilled over, this time after steady needling by the city ombudsman accusing him first of meddling in the civics appointment process and advising she needed more staff during the preliminary budget review. Her colleague, the integrity commissioner, has joined the ombudsman in the mayoral doghouse by pointing out the mayor’s staff were assigned to support the mayor’s private interest in a school football team, plus expenses for their cellphones and city automobiles. Most recently, she criticized the mayor’s and his brother’s disparaging personal remarks about the medical officer of health. The discussion on the adequacy of the apology underlined the brothers’ visceral belief the actions are politically motivated. The third member in the doghouse is the city’s lobbyist registrar, who questioned recent lobbyist activities. At this council meeting, the mayor thought he had an opportunity to strike back. Using the opportunity to consider a contract extension for the ombuds-
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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, November 8, 2012 |
Opinion
Beyond the headlines
david soknacki
man, the mayor and some of his allies thought it advisable to schedule the end of her term at the same time as her colleagues. If the contracts of these three of his tormentors ended at the same time, reasoned the mayor, then they could all be replaced at once, perhaps with a single consultant. Even if the mayor’s plan was in the public interest, which I do not think it is, and even if the mayor had the votes for council’s approval, which he did not, his plan was not even in his own interest. The first rule of politics is to remain consistent. In the mayor’s case, he must be the conductor to stop the gravy train. He cannot condone what his supporters will see as excessive or self-serving spending. As examples of what to avoid, both council and the public still recall
the mess examined by Madame Justice Bellamy during the MFP inquiry of the past decade. Her inquiry cost $19 million directly, plus she found the city paid more than over $40 million in equipment and software than it planned or was necessary. The municipal watchdogs the mayor seeks to muzzle came from a widespread revulsion for what was revealed during that inquiry. Yet these municipal watchdogs have found small, but real examples of similar behaviour. Even leaving aside the public interest, attacking these guardians after they found doubtful practices around the mayor creates dissonance in the mayor’s key message and uncertainty in the minds of his core supporters. Next major problem For the mayor, the next major problem in this issue is that it shows his inability to form a complex policy that council will approve. His inflammatory position of replacing the three positions with a consultant did nothing but prove that the mayor has no desire to find an accept-
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able position. Surely the mayor’s staff told him that his musing had no chance of success. That council overwhelmingly approved a compromise, a twoyear renewal of the ombudsman’s contract, was due to Councillor Karen Stintz’s tireless background work and willingness to let the mayor take the credit. Despite the half-day lost in argument and embarrassment, positives did come out of the debate. In terms of public policy, council strongly supported the ombudsman, integrity commissioner and lobbyist registrar. Secondly, neither the mayor’s side, nor his opposition, has enough votes without the other. If a major measure is to be passed, there must be compromise. Although the process was painful and sometimes the final resolution was in doubt, at the end, the biggest positive of all was council came to a reasonable decision. n David Soknacki is a former City of Toronto councillor and budget chief. Contact him at www.soknacki. com
West-end cookie plant closing After more than 60 years in Etobicoke, the Mr. Christie Bakery has been slated for closure next year, impacting nearly 550 workers. On Thursday, Nov. 1, Mondelez Canada announced its intention to close the 625,000-square-foot biscuit manufacturing facility located on Lake Shore Boulevard West at Park Lawn Road, in the third quarter of 2013. The facility has produced a variety of cookies and crackers since 1948. Facing challenges The decision to close the factory was a difficult one, “given the role the facility has played within the organization and in the community for 64 years,” said Alvaro Cuba, vice-president of Operations for Mondelez Canada. “However, the plant faces some unique challenges resulting from the changing neighborhood surrounding the facility,” he said in a statement. “While this was an appropriate location for a large bakery when it was first built, the significant residential development surrounding it has led to operating constraints that will become increasingly difficult with the further residential expansion that is underway.” - Cynthia Reason
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