February 5 by The City Centre Mirror

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inside New Vanauley Street YMCA serving at-risk youth downtown / 3

The City: David Nickle / 4

Clement Virgo directs Book of Negroes / 5

Jane Austen fireside tea, and much more in our calendar / 6 shopping wagjag.com amazing deals on group discounts

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Sleeping bags for the homeless

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

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Tea ceremony

Ryerson students start fundraising campaign JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com With little more than determination and a desire to help, a group of Ryerson University students are looking to bring warmth to Toronto’s homeless community. Students Jane Mathias and Katharine Heng recently started City of Sleeping Bags, along with Mathias’ sister Josephine. The charitable organization aims to see the team deliver 100 allweather sleeping bags to those living on the street. The second-year business management students came up with the idea after representing Ryerson at the DECA 2015 provincials. While staying at a hotel after the competition, they ordered a pizza and wanted to share the leftovers with the homeless. Upon further contemplation, they decided they wanted to bring their charitable ways even further. “We were basically walking downtown and saw a homeless guy sitting outside with just a jacket to keep warm,” Jane Mathias said. “We couldn’t get that money out of our own pocket (to pur>>>indiegogo, page 11

Photo/GIORDANO CIAMPINI

Festival master: Tea master Austin Wong performs a traditional Japanese tea ceremony during the Toronto Tea Festival on Saturday at the Toronto Reference Library. More photos online at http://goo.gl/1o0B6P

Concert ‘close to the heart’ for musician JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com The annual Closer to the Heart concert is close to the heart indeed for performer Thompson T. Egbo-Egbo.

The concert, the seventh installment of which will take place on Thursday, Feb. 12, raises funds for the Regent Park School of Music (RPSM), a key institution in Egbo-Egbo’s success as a pianist.

“I started out at a music school at Dixon Hall – at the time, the Regent Park School of Music didn’t exist – and people there wanted to create a school of their own design,” he said. “I ended up going there in its earli-

est years. It was a great thing to do, a great place to be able to learn music and hang out with buddies.” The school opens doors for Regent Park youngsters, many >>>thompson, page 12

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015 |

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Your immune system weakens as you get older harder to fight off infection. making it har

PROTECT TECT Y YOURSELF:

• Get your our flu shot • Clean your our hands of often • Cough and sneeze into int your arm, not your our hand • Keep eep common sur surfaces clean • Stayy home if you y are sick

To learn more and to find out where to get your flu vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider or visit Canada.ca/Flu

New ‘Y’ serving at-risk youth in downtown area Vanauley Street YMCA opened shelter and drop-in centre JUSTIN SKINNER

jskinner@insidetoronto.com

Having just opened its doors, the Vanauley Street YMCA is already serving a huge need for at-risk youth in the downtown area. The new building, located in the Alexandra Park community, opened its shelter component on Jan. 22 and a drop-in centre on Jan. 26. With the mercury dropping this winter, it will also serve as an Extreme Cold Weather centre specifically for youth aged 16 to 24. The 40-bed shelter, in particular, takes the needs of youth into account more than the former Y shelter in the area, at 485 Queen Street, did. “We have double-occupancy rooms and a couple of single-occupancy rooms, and each room has a private

washroom,” said YMCA youth outreach and intervention general manager Louise Smith. “A high number of homeless youth – about one in five – is a member of the LGBTQ population, and the added washrooms give added privacy to members of the trans community.” She added that the private rooms are also beneficial to the population the Vanauley Street Y serves. “These are young people 16 to 24, and teenagers and youth often like to go in their rooms and shut the door,” she said. “When residents leave, their doors are locked, and we’ll have overnight staff here on the (residential) floor in case the youth need anything, including just someone to have a conversation with.” Each room comes equipped with a care package full of essentials such as soap, sham-

Staff photo/JUSTIN SKINNER

The Vanauley Street YMCA offers drop-in services and will serve as an extreme cold weather centre for homeless youth.

poo and socks. The building boasts two separate entrances – one for shelter residents and one for drop-in centre users.

The drop-in offers a variety of supports and social opportunities. Overall, the Vanauley Street YMCA offers mental health support, sub-

stance abuse programming, employment assistance, counselling, medical services and legal services. It is completely barrier-free, ensuring those

with mobility issues can make full use of it. There are also laundry facilities on-site. Importantly, the new building is brightly-coloured on the outside and professionallooking on the inside. “We really involved all our participants in the design of the new space,” Smith said. “The participants really wanted to feel a sense of hopefulness and respect.” For 21-year-old Prince, the new shelter is a massive improvement over the old YMCA shelter in the area. “It’s wonderful, clean and everything’s new,” he said. “I like that I have my own room and have that privacy.” Prince has made use of several of the Y’s programs, and found employment thanks to the organization’s support. “They definitely have really good services and everyone’s engaged,” he said. “They have a lot of activities for their clients to do.”

For more information on the Vanauley Street YMCA, visit http://goo.gl/VLvO2N

New Covenant House program to help victims of sex trafficking JUSTIN SKINNER

jskinner@insidetoronto.com

A new partnership between Covenant House, Toronto Community Housing, the Rotary Club of Toronto’s W o m e n ’s I n i t i a t i v e s Committee and the City of Toronto will help young female victims of sex trafficking transition out of the sex trade. The partnership will provide housing for seven residents aged 16 to 24 at a property rented for a nominal fee over the next 15 years. Covenant House will cover operating and maintenance costs while the City will cover capital repair costs. “At Toronto Community Housing, we realize everything starts with having a roof over your head,” said TCHC interim president and CEO Greg Spearn. Toronto Police Deputy Chief Mark Saunders noted 2014 saw 59 people arrested for human trafficking violations and 365 human trafficking charges laid, but said the arrests pale in comparison

to the impact of bringing girls and young women to safety. “One of the greatest numbers is we were able to rescue 33 victims last year as the result of the hard work done,” he said during the Thursday, Jan. 29 announcement at Covenant House. “And not only did we rescue 33 people, but last year – 2014 – was the first conviction in the City of Toronto for human trafficking.” The initiative will take a multi-pronged approach to combatting human trafficking in the city. Prevention and early intervention work will feature in-school presentations, online resources, training for shelter and medical professionals and more. There will also be crisis intervention to help girls who are being sexually exploited, counselling, health care services, legal help, immigration support, employment training, mentoring, housing support and other services. Covenant House supervisor of outreach services Michele Anderson has worked with

“

One of the greatest numbers is we were able to rescue 33 victims last year as the result of the hard work done. And not only did we rescue 33 people, but last year – 2014 – was the first conviction in the City of Toronto for human trafficking.

~ Police Deputy Chief Mark Saunders

Staff photo/JUSTIN SKINNER

Mayor John Tory helps launch Covenant House’s longer-term housing program for young female victims of sex trafficking, during a media conference held Thursday at the homeless youth support agency’s Gerrard Street location

many young women who have been sexually exploited when they felt they had nowhere to turn while living on the

streets. “This is a day I’ve looked forward to for a very, very long time,” she said.

Anderson spoke of her experiences with “Sarah”, a client who had been beaten nearly to death by a violent pimp. “She was an ordinary teen who could have been any of our daughters or sisters,” she said. “Her situation made me incredibly angry and I was compelled to move forward to help young women like her.” Anderson noted in the ensuing years, she has worked with others, some

of whom have died violent deaths before they were able to escape their exploiters. The new initiative will provide far more supports than ever before, helping young women escape similar situations. Toronto Mayor John Tory lauded the new initiative, noting the agencies working together make for a great group to combat the issue of sex trafficking. “Isn’t it just the ideal partnership to see that you have organizations like Toronto Community Housing and the City of Toronto and the Rotary Club and the Toronto Police Service and Covenant House...all working together,” he said. “It’s the epitome of civic engagement and citizen engagement.” The location of the shelter being provided to the young victims will remain confidential.

For more information on the work being done by Covenant House in this and other areas affecting homeless youth, visit www.covenanthousetoronto.ca

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015 |

opinion Ian Proudfoot John Willems Peter Haggert Antoine Tedesco Warren Elder

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Pan Am Path could be best Games souvenir

Write us The City Centre Mirror welcomes letters of 400 words or less. All submissions must include name, address and a daytime telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Copyright in letters remains with the author but the publisher and affiliates may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. Letters can be sent to letters@ insidetoronto.com, or mailed to The City Centre Mirror, 175 Gordon Baker Rd. Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2.

elp build the Pan Am Path and create a living legacy for the city of Toronto. The 84-kilometre trail promises to connect communities literally and figuratively across the Toronto region and may be our best souvenir from the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. Though it’s the dead of winter, now’s the time to get involved. Workshops hosted by the many partner organizations are starting to take place to help build various installations meant to celebrate our diversity. Lakeshore Arts in Etobicoke, for example, will begin public workshops this month to create unique flags banners for part of the path our view and that “explore themes of home, identity and community stories.” Trail will The workshops aim to bring people together across genconnect all erations and cultures and is representative of the kind of colof Toronto laboration the path is meant to inspire. Check in with partner groups Urban Arts, Arts Etobicoke, East End Arts, Scarborough Arts and North York Arts for other local opportunities. Stretching from the Claireville Reservoir in the northwest, down the Humber River, across the Martin Goodman Trail to the Don River and northeast to Rouge Park, the Pan Am Path’s installation and associated programs aim to engage and leverage diversity by showcasing the communities that exist along the route. It’s a great chance for many of our Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIA) to get involved through the launch of the Path – which touches seven of the city’s 17 NIAs – and ongoing stewardship to ensure its future sustainability. The Path also aims to promote healthy living by filling in the gaps in our trail system and improving the public spaces found within. The multiuse trail, once complete, has the potential to become a regional landmark that could raise the profile of the city for its own residents and tourists alike. No matter your opinion of the Games, this project is a great example of people coming together to celebrate diversity and create a lasting legacy that’s accessible to all Torontonians. It’s bridging cultures and geography, providing a physical connection between our outer suburbs and the downtown core. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it.

column

Tory right to weigh in on possible school closures Watching the early months of John Tory’s mayoralty after having watched four years of his predecessor is to constantly be amazed – often at very small things that in a saner environment wouldn’t amaze anybody. The mayor arrives at work before 7 in the morning? He answers questions put to him? These things shouldn’t be a shock, but they are. On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Tory did it again. Upon reading reports on the possibility that a number of schools deemed surplus by the Toronto District School Board might be sold, Tory drafted a three-page, densely argued letter to both the public and Catholic school board chairs as well as the province’s Minister of Education Liz Sandals. One can imagine how former mayor Rob Ford might have handled that issue – which is to say, not at all, unless perhaps he’d

david nickle the city gotten a call from a group of neighbours convinced that their local school was going to be overtaken by the disabled... or if someone convinced him it had to do with intramural football. Tory’s letter addresses a rat’s nest of a problem of over-capacity and underfunding that the Toronto District School Board is facing: how to deal with schools that are operating far below capacity. It’s a problem the board has faced since the amalgamation of Toronto in 1998, when it was forced to confront a provincial funding formula that penalized unused capacity and encouraged closures of schools that were underpopulated. The formula has been problematic for Toronto, because the city has a long

“

But it is a pleasant shock to see a mayor who understands the value of publicly owned assets to both established and growing communities.

history of finding utility in its school properties beyond their educational purpose. Local school boards and local municipalities have, to varying degrees, been partners. It is also a problem because Toronto itself is by no means a stable community. Population ebbs and flows – and the city itself is planning for more flow into its neighbourhoods. The resources schools represent in a neighbourhood are finite, and in that sense precious. It is an even bigger rat’s nest because as much as there’s been cooperation and partnership between school board and

municipalities, Toronto politicians and planners have few direct ways to see those resources preserved. The city can purchase surplus schools, and has done so in the past to preserve public uses or mitigate environmental impacts. But that’s an expensive proposition – and given that Toronto is already borrowing money to simply balance its operating budget, not in the cards. It may be that Tory’s attempt to delicately insert himself and the city into the process is a foolhardy one – as he admitted in his letter, it is none of the city’s fiduciary business. But it is a pleasant shock to see a mayor who understands the value of publicly owned assets to both established and growing communities. That was another thing the other fellow never really understood.

David Nickle is The Mirror’s city hall reporter. His column appears Thursday.

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The Book of Negroes filmmaker Clement Virgo

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Kensington Market resident credits 80s New York film scene with career path JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com For a project that gave him pause at first, filmmaker and Kensington Market resident Clement Virgo’s most recent work has turned out to be the crowning achievement of his career thus far. Virgo directed the mini-series The Book of Negroes, based on the book of the same name by Canadian author Lawrence Hill. While both the book and the series have been wellreceived, the filmmaker admitted he was hesitant to so much as read it when he first heard of it. “I had a reaction to the title – it’s a charged word,” he said. “It took me a bit of time to get up to reading it, but when I did, I fell in love with it.” Virgo noted that, upon reading the book, the racially charged word almost felt like a non-sequitur. The sprawling period drama provided plenty of material for the miniseries, which Virgo and Hill adapted for the screen. In fact, there was almost too much material. “The novel was big, so there was a challenge in how to ensure the people (viewers) meet and care about a narrative arc,” Virgo said.

“I also wanted to make sure the love story aspect carried through to the last episode – in the book, it’s kind of dropped. It was a love story through the perspective of a woman, which isn’t something you tend to see.” Virgo came to Canada with his parents at age 11, arriving here in the late 1970s as part of the first big wave of Caribbean immigrants to Canada. The family settled in the Eglinton and Oakwood area, which boasted a large Caribbean-Canadian population. “There was a big Jamaican population there at the time, so it was the first place to go if you wanted to make friends,” he said. From there, the family moved to Regent Park and then to Alexandra Park, a short distance from the neighbourhood he now calls home. “Living in Regent Park and Alexandra Park, those were seminal years in terms of shaping how I feel about the city and the country,” he said. “ There were a lot of immigrants from all over – African, Asia, the Caribbean – and it showed that nobody has a claim to the city. It’s a cultural experiment that’s working.”

Photo/COURTESY

Clement Virgo, the director of the CBC mini-series ‘The Book of Negroes’, works on the set of the show in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

Despite a love of movies, Virgo never saw himself as a filmmaker growing up. That all changed when he saw Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It in 1986. He credits the New York film scene at the time with turning him on to his current career path. “As an immigrant kid who came

from Jamaica as a kid, I never thought that door was open until (She’s Gotta Have It),” he said. “When I decided to get into (filmmaking), the overwhelming response from my parents was ‘learn a trade. Learn something practical.’” Still, he persevered, and now has a list of credits that includes stints directing episodes of acclaimed television series The Wire and The L-Word, among others. The Book of Negroes marks a new high, with Virgo helming the high-profile mini-series. “It’s the first project I’ve made that my niece was interested in,” he said with a chuckle. “We saw an ad for it over the holidays and she said ‘I can’t wait to see that.’ I looked at her and said ‘you know I did that, right?’” Despite the show’s success, Virgo remains low-key about his success. “I’ve always felt like I’m working on the margins as a filmmaker. I’ve never felt like I’ve arrived – I’m still reaching, searching, trying to find my voice,” he said.

The Book of Negroes premiered Jan. 7 and airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on the CBC.

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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015

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calendar

it's happening w Thursday, Feb. 5

Family Matters in Youth Bipolar Disorder WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, McLaughlin Lecture Hall, 2075 Bayview Ave., E-wing Ground Floor CONTACT: scoreybd.eventbrite.ca COST: Free Open to anyone with an interest in learning more about bipolar disorder in youth, this event will emphasize the importance of integrating families into clinical care, research and education. Free admission and free parking in Garage 1. CJF J-Talk: More Than Hockey: Canada’s Expanding Sports Media Landscape WHEN: 6:30 to 8 p.m. WHERE: TMX Broadcast Centre (Gallery), The Exchange Tower, 130 King St. W. CONTACT: Wendy Kan, 416-955-0394, ext. 502 COST: general admission: $25 Sports writers will have for a conversation on the future of sports journalism. https://cjf-sports-landscape.eventbrite.ca

w Saturday, Feb. 7

The Great Black North Launch WHEN: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. CONTACT: http://ifoa.org/events/ great-black-north-launch, media@ifoa. org COST: Free Kuumba and IFOA host the launch of the anthology of contemporary African Canadian poetry The Great Black North, with readings. A discussion with the poets will follow.

w Sunday, Feb. 8

Manos Sucias (Dirty Hands) at Toronto Black Film Festival WHEN: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. WHERE: Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. CONTACT: http://torontoblackfilm. com/2015-festival/#/film/231COST: $25 Manos Sucias (Dirty Hands) opens the Black Film Festival. The feature-length film offers a rare glimpse at the drug trade’s devastating effects.

The Big Draw art auction WHEN: 3:30 to 7 p.m. WHERE: OCAD University, 100 McCaul St. CONTACT: Daniela Lee-Kim, 416-977-6000 COST: $10 The Big Draw is an annual silent auction of juried work from OCAD University drawing and painting students, faculty and alumni with all proceeds going to support the graduating catalogue for drawing and painting students. Tax

our lEgacy is preserving yours. Saying goodbye is hard enough. Don’t leave the burden of your final arrangements to your loved ones. When you’re ready to talk, we’re here to listen. Pre-plan with us.

Valentine Origami WHEN: 2 to 4 p.m. WHERE: Lillian H. Smith Library, 239 College St. CONTACT: 416-393-7746 COST: Free Come to the library to fold a heart and bear mobile. Suitable for ages six to 12. No registration required. This program is offered in partnership with FOLD, the UofT Origami Club. They meet every first Saturday of the month to offer origami to children. Trivia Night - Wychwood Open Door WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. WHERE: Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St. CONTACT: Wendy Wells, 416-997-3599 COST: Free Wychwood Open Door presents its Trivia Night, a fundraiser to provide programs and services for socially isolated individuals living in the community. Come and test your trivia knowledge.

w Tuesday, Feb. 10

www.mountpleasantgroup.com/planning 200 Winchester Street, Toronto, ON M4X 1B7 I Tel 416-923-7911

looking ahead w Saturday, Feb. 14

Jane Austen fireside tea WHEN: 1 to 3 p.m. WHERE: Toronto’s First Post Office, 260 Adelaide St. E. CONTACT: Karen Millyard, www. JaneAustenDancing.ca COST: $20 Join us for a pot of steaming tea by the fireside and a sampling of historical treats known to Jane Austen and her contemporaries, as well as an informal talk on meals and food customs in Austen’s time. Reservations are by pre-payment only. To book tickets, visit www.JaneAustenDancing.ca

get listed! The City Centre Mirror wants your community listings. Sign up online at citycentremirror.com to submit your events (click the Sign Up link in the top right corner of the page).

Toronto Necropolis is a business name of Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries.

happening in

city centre

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015 |

receipts for the value of the works will be issued.

w Wednesday, Feb. 11

After School Club: The Golden Griffins WHEN: 4 to 5 p.m. WHERE: Lillian H. Smith Library, 239 College St. CONTACT: 416-393-7746 COST: Free This club is intended for ages six to 12 with LEGO building and various activities. Visit the library or call to register. The Probus Club Of Toronto WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon WHERE: Holy Rosary Parish Hall, 356 St Clair Ave. W. CONTACT: probus.toronto@gmail.com COST: $2 The Probus Club Of Toronto welcomes professional business men and women who have retired from their jobs or business and want to maintain a social network with others who have similar interests. The club meets on the second Wednesday of each month. The speaker and topic – how to avoid falls and protect yourself. Art in the Moment: AGO Tour with the Alzheimer Society of Toronto WHEN: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W. CONTACT: http://on.alz.to/site/Calendar /2009493783?view=Detail&id=101121, imoffett@alzheimertoronto.org COST: Free A guided, interactive tour of the Art Gallery of Ontario for people in the early stages of dementia and their family caregivers. Light refreshments are served following the tour. Overview of Lewy Body Dementia WHEN: 6 to 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Alzheimer Society of Toronto, 20 Eglinton Ave. W. Suite 1600 CONTACT: imoffett@alzheimertoronto.org COST: Free Join us for Research Night for an indepth look at Lewy Body dementia with Dr. Masellis from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and assistant professor in neurology at the University of Toronto. Transform Your Health Naturally WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. WHERE: Central Eglinton Community Centre, 160 Eglinton Ave. E. CONTACT: Nancy Lyon, 416-3920511, ext. 0 COST: Free In this free workshop, you will learn three proven strategies to transform your health naturally, You will learn how to kick start your health, increase energy, reduce body aches and more. Enjoy herbal tea and get your questions answered by a registered nutritionist.

w Saturday, Feb. 14

Valentine’s Pom Pom Monsters WHEN: 2 to 3 p.m. WHERE: Lillian H. Smith Library, Room A, 239 College St. CONTACT: 416-393-7746 to register COST: Free Children six to 12 can create their own Valentine pom pom monster.

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9 | CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015 |

community

Ken Whiteley plays Mardi Gras concert at St. Andrew’s w JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com St. Andrew’s Church is set to give guests a taste of New Orleans when roots music legend Ken Whiteley takes to the stage with a full contingent of family and friends. Whiteley, who has performed roots music in Toronto since the 1960s, will headline the church’s Mardi Gras 2015 concert on Friday, Feb. 13. The Mardi Gras concert was organized by Jordan Klapman, who Whiteley said allowed him to pick his lineup. “This year, we skewed things so I could have my son Ben on bass, my brother Chris on trumpet, the fabulous Levy Sisters singing with us, my old friend Bucky Berger on drums, trombone from William Carn and clarinet from Tom Skublics,” Whiteley said. The Annex resident first developed a love of roots music as a teen, when he had a chance to watch some of the greats in action. Despite his love of roots music, Whiteley had no idea

Photo/COURTESY

Toronto roots music veteran Ken Whiteley, left, the Levy Sisters and Ben Whiteley, will perform at St. Andrew’s Church’s Mardi Gras 2015 concert on Friday, Feb. 13.

he would become such a mainstay in the industry. He studied to become a teacher, but quickly found that wasn’t for him, resigning after four months. From there, Whiteley, his brother Chris and their friend Tom Evans started The Original Sloth Band in 1972. “That was the first year we performed and by the end of that summer, I decided this was what I wanted to do,” he said. Whiteley’s career has seen him earn multiple Juno Award

nominations, Canadian Folk Music Awards and plenty of other accolades. As a producer with more than 140 albums to his credit, he has won two Juno Awards, earned two Grammy nominations, and has 10 gold and platinum records in Canada for his work with artists such as Fred Penner, Raffi and his own Junior Jug Band. He has also played alongside folk and roots greats such as Pete Seeger, John Hammond Jr., Blind John Davis and countless others.

“There are a lot of different ways to measure success, but for me, from the get-go it was about doing something I loved ... To me, real success happens when you’re on stage or in the studio and magic happens,” he said. In addition to the upcoming Mardi Gras concert, Whiteley has just released a new album, Ken Whiteley and the Beulah Band, featuring a variety of folk styles. When not recording or performing, he makes the most of life in the Annex. “Toronto’s a collection of many neighbourhoods, and it’s easy to make a connection with a neighbourhood like this,” he said. “You get to know the people at the corner stores and the people you see every day.” Mardi Gras 2015 will take place at St. Andrew’s Church, 73 Simcoe St., at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13. For tickets or information, visit www.standrewstoronto.org

For more information on Ken Whiteley, visit his website www.kenwhiteley.com

Volunteers sought for the Games

More than 23,000 volunteers are needed to help out with the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/ Parapan Games set for July 10 to 26 and Aug. 7 to 15 respectively. Volunteers will get a sneak peek of the Pan Am Games opening ceremony created by Cirque du Soleil, access to exclusive promotions and events, a chance to meet international athletes, training and a uniform. For information, call 416-256-8997 or toll free at 1-855-388-2015 or email TO2015volunteer@cibc.com

your Pan Am tickets wGet

Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit www.ticketmaster.ca/toronto2015 and search for the sport or ceremony you want to see and click on the pictogram. You can search by venue or date. Availability in certain sport sessions or ceremonies may be limited or unavailable. Check back regularly.

michele mclean pan am/parapan softball team named wwomen’s Softball Canada released its women’s roster for the Pan Am Games, which will be played from July 19 to 26 in Ajax. The team includes three returning 2011 athletes from Toronto: Jenna Caira, Victoria Hayward and Joey Lye. The team also includes four Olympians from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Other countries that qualified in women’s softball are Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Trip for the Games wMotorcycle

Kevin Milne and Wayne Wilton, official TO2015 IGNITE partners, left on a 40,000-kilometre motorcycle journey through two continents and 18 countries to promote the Games.

Michele McLean’s column on the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/ Parapan Am Games appears regularly. Reach her at mmclean@ insidetoronto.com

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11 | CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015

community

Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign on until March 21 >>>from page 1 chase sleeping bags).” The students originally dismissed the idea as a pipe dream, but upon seeing a video on The Ellen DeGeneres Show about a pizzeria that encourages customers to buy an extra slice for the homeless, they felt compelled to move ahead. “Everyone starts small, so we decided to start a website and a campaign and we got started right away,” Mathias said. Thus far, the campaign is off to a great start. Since it started on Jan. 20, it has raised roughly $4,000 of the students’ $5,000 goal – no small feat for a grassroots fundraising effort starting from scratch. “It’s been pretty great so far – better than we expected, for sure,” said Heng, adding any money raised above and beyond the goal will go toward additional sleeping bags. With the campaign well underway, the young fundraisers are looking to source sleeping bags. Their original plan was to buy them from

John Tsilfidis

Photo/COURTESY

Katharine Heng, left, and Jane Mathias, are the founders of City of Sleeping Bags, a charity that aims to purchase and distribute sleeping bags to the homeless in Toronto.

Walmart, but now they are g ro u p a i m s t o f u r n i s h looking for wholesalers to get Toronto’s homeless with other both the best sleeping bags necessities, such as gloves, they can and the best bang blankets and Tim Horton’s for their buck. gift cards. They are also asking people For more information on the to pitch in in other ways if Indeigogo campaign visit www.cityofsleepingbags.com they cannot donate money. “Right now, we’re asking for volunteers (to help distribute the sleep- Best Buy CORRECTION NOTICE RETRACTION FOR THE BEST BUY JANUARY 30 CORPORATE FLYER In the ing bags) and we’ve got NEWSPAPER January 30 flyer,page 6,several Blu-ray titles were advertised with incorrect prices.The correct people signing up to help, prices are as follows:Dracula Untold (Blu-ray Combo) $24.99 (Web Code:M2215014),John which is a great feeling,” Wick (Blu-ray) $22.99 (Web Code:M2215699),The Best of Me (Blu-ray) $22.99 (Web Code: M2215695), Fury (Blu-ray) $26.99 (Web Code: M2215482), Ouija (Blu-ray Combo) $24.99 Heng said. (Web Code: M2215229),The Book of Life (Blu-ray Combo) $24.99 (Web Code: M2215170) Once they hit their and The Book of Life (3D Blu-ray Combo) $29.99 (Web Code: M2215449). We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers. fundraising goal, the

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CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015 |

education

Thompson T. Egbo-Egbo recalls Regent Park School of Music >>>from page 1 whom would not be able to afford traditional high-level music instruction. Egbo-Egbo was born in Nigeria and moved to Regent Park with his family in 1987, when he was four, living there until his late teens. From his beginnings at the RPSM, he went on to study in Humber College’s performing arts program and later earned a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. His career took him on tour, and he recently settled in the Queen and Broadview area, near his alma mater, Danforth Tech. “The building I grew up in is currently being demolished, so there are a lot of changes going on there and it’s interesting to see how much things have changed,” he said. While he has become an indemand performer, Egbo-Egbo has always found time to perform at the RPSM’s Closer to the Heart shows, even though he wasn’t always technically allowed to. “The first one was at the Rivoli and that was interesting because I was only 17 and the bouncer didn’t want to let me in,” he said. “They had to sneak me in the back to have

Photo/COURTESY

Regent Park School of Music graduate Thompson Egbo-Egbo, is one of the artists performing at the upcoming fundraiser ‘Closer to the Heart’.

me perform, and then I just snuck back out again when I was done.” Since then, he has been able to enjoy the concert in a more relaxing way, playing alongside the house band and some of Canada’s top musicians. “One of the things I love about the concert is that it’s Toronto artists

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playing content that’s all Canadian,” he said. “(For this year’s performance) I’ll be playing a piece by Jacksoul and one by Neil Young.” Currently, Egbo-Egbo performs with the Thompson Egbo-Egbo Trio. He released an album entitled Short Stories last fall which consists of original works.

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He has also been sure to remember his humble beginnings, starting up the Thompson T. Egbo-Egbo Arts Foundation (www.egbofoundation. org), which promotes music and arts education and opportunities for kids. “Last year, I partnered with seven young artists from Regent Park to create a music video talking about what their Regent Park is and means to them,” he said. Closer to the Heart is one more way to give back. Egbo-Egbo will join a star-studded lineup including David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears, David Diamond of The Kings, 2014 Juno Award winner Justin Rutledge and others for the show. The show will take place at Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street East, with a performance by RPSM students starting at 6 p.m. and the show itself kicking off at 7 p.m. Tickets are pay-what-you-can (suggested donation $30) with all proceeds going to the RPSM’s programming.

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Mayor John Tory weighed in on the issue of under-utilized schools in a letter addressed to the Ontario Education and Toronto District School Board (TDSB) chair. “It appears to me that the conversation has become polarized with the two opposing positions being: never sell a school property versus sell every property that does not meet the capacity number established by the province,” he said in the Monday, Feb. 2 letter. “I believe the most productive way forward lies somewhere in between these views.” The letter comes less than two weeks before the Feb. 13 deadline, on which the TDSB has to submit to the province a three-year capital plan reflecting the current student population and stating how the board can manage its capital assets. TDSB Chair Shaun Chen said he appreciated the letter from Tory and that he reached out to the board. “We’re absolutely looking forward to working together in a collaborative way,” said Chen, adding he planned to hold a roundtable and include the mayor in the coming weeks. But Chen didn’t know exactly when that meeting will take place. - Clark Kim

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JOB POSTING JOB TITLE: Digital Ad Trafficker (Full-time) BUSINESS UNIT: Digital Automotive Ventures, 1 Yonge Street, Toronto THE COMPANY A subsidiary of Torstar Corporation, Metroland is one of Canada’s premier media companies. Metroland delivers up-to-the-minute vital business and community information to millions of people across Ontario. We have grown significantly in recent years in terms of audience and advertisers and we’re continuing to invest heavily in developing best-in-class talent, products and technology to accelerate our growth in the media landscape and strengthen our connection to the community. For further information, please visit www.metroland.com. THE OPPORTUNITY • As a Digital Ad Trafficker you will primarily be responsible for trafficking and managing display, video, mobile web and APP campaigns across the Metroland Automotive Network. You will provide detailed reports on multiple digital sales campaigns, facilitating interdepartmental communications and tracking web traffic, finances and production rates of digital products KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES • Traffic, test, and maintain advertising campaigns using the Metroland Network • Debug and troubleshoot any ad creative issues that affect tracking, implementation, delivery, or reporting. • Work collaboratively with Digital Sales Advisors to recommend campaign modifications. • Process creative changes and change orders • Proactively seek new online advertising knowledge, keep current with interactive media trends • Identify process inefficiencies and ways to improve operations workflow • Maintain a strong working knowledge of company products, special sales programs and marketing efforts within the sales division WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR • Minimum 2 year trafficking experience. RTB/Programmatic buying experience a plus. • Organized, detail oriented and highly focused. • Creative problem solver, self-motivated and driven. • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment • Excellent written and oral communication skills • Familiarity with ad servers, rich media vendors, web debugging tools (Firebug, HTTPFox, Fiddler, etc.) a plus. Knowledge of AdTech preferred • High computer proficiency: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, rich media, Flash, and Java • 3rd party ad tag implementation and troubleshooting for mobile Web, APP, desktop, and video • Working knowledge VAST and VPAID video tags, familiarity of how websites and online ads work. • Passion for online advertising and/or game-changing technology. • Exposure to online ad serving concepts (CPM/CPA/RTB/ROI), video, mobile, and social a plus. • Quick learner who loves to pick up new tools/software for reporting & analysis • People person - can work with Sales and Analytics teams to plan and optimize campaigns for performance. • Flexibility to occasionally work at odd hours (from home). If working with a highly energized, competitive team is your ideal environment, please email your resume to Ashley Wilson aewilson@metroland.com by February 28, 2015. In compliance with AODA, Metroland will endeavour to provide reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities in the recruitment process upon request. If you are selected for an interview and you require accommodation due to a disability during the recruitment process, please notify the hiring manager upon scheduling your interview. Thank you for your interest. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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INVITATION TO TENDER Metroland Media Toronto is accepting tenders to deliver our Advertiser store copies of flyers to pre-determined store locations within the Toronto area once per week. This entails picking up the flyers at our North York location on Wednesday’s and completing the store drops within one day. Delivery addresses will be supplied with Bid packages. Contracts commence Monday March 2nd, 2015. Bid packages are available at the Reception Desk, of Metroland Media Toronto, 175 Gordon Baker Road, Toronto Ontario M2H 0A2. Tender due date: Thursday February 19th 2015 By 5 pm To the attention of: Anton McCormack Mailroom / Trucking Supervisor Lowest or any bid not necessarily accepted.

INVITATION TO TENDER Metroland Media Toronto is accepting tenders to deliver our weekly Newspaper and flyers to carrier drop locations within the Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York and North York areas 3 times per week. This entails picking up the newspapers and flyers at our North York location on Tuesday’s and completing all Flyer deliveries by Wednesday’s at 3 p.m and all newspaper deliveries by Thursday’s at 2 p.m to all carrier drops. All applicants must have a cargo van or cube truck. Contracts commence Monday March 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd, 2015. (Depending on area selected to bid for) Bid packages are available at the Reception Desk, of Metroland Media Toronto, 175 Gordon Baker Road, Toronto Ontario M2H 0A2. Tender due date: Thursday February 19th 2015 By 5 pm To the attention of: Anton McCormack, Mailroom/ Trucking Supervisor Lowest or any bid not necessarily accepted.

Appliance Repairs/ Installation

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

NESO FLOORING

Carpet installation starting from $1.19/ sq.ft. Hardwood, laminate at low prices. 27 yrs experience. Free Estimates. Best Price!

25OFF

Lowest or any bid not necessarily accepted.

Clogged drain, frozen pipes, camera inspection, leaky pipes. Reasonable price. 25 years experience. Licensed/ Insured, Credit card accepted. Free estimate. James Chen 647-519-9506

Flooring & Carpeting

INVITATION TO TENDER

EMERGENCY?

Flooring & Carpeting

Tenders

Servicing All Your Plumbing Needs

Metroland Media Toronto is accepting tenders to deliver our weekly Apartment Saverbag to carrier and lobby drop locations within the Etobicoke and Scarborough area 1 to 2 times per week. This entails picking up the skids of Saverbags at our North York location on Wednesday’s and completing all carrier deliveries by Thursday’s at 2 p.m and all lobby drop deliveries by Thursday’s at 7 p.m. All applicants must have a cargo van or cube truck. Contracts commence Monday March 2nd 2015 Bid packages are available at the Reception Desk, of Metroland Media Toronto, 175 Gordon Baker Road, Toronto Ontario M2H 0A2. Tender due date: Thursday February 19 2015 By 5 pm To the attention of: Anton McCormack, Mailroom / Trucking Supervisor

Plumbing

RAY PLUMBING Service Repair/ replacement, faucets, sinks, toilets, drains, main valve, leaky pipes, drain cleaning. Licensed and insured. 24/7. 416-876-6679

plumbing

Call us at:

Delivery questions?

416-493-4400

www.insidetoronto.com

Cars

2007 HYUNDAI TUCSON

GL V6 2.7L Automatic, Asking $7888. One owner, non-smoker, well maintained, market value more than $9000, plus 4 235/60/16 2-year winter tires with aluminum alloy wheels value $700. 137,800KM. 416-856-3728

| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015

Classifieds

Legal Services

CRIMINAL RECORD? Canadian Record Suspension (Criminal pardon) seals record. American waiver allows legal entry. Why risk employment, business, travel, licensing, deportation, peace of mind? Free consultation: 1-800-347-2540

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.RemoveYourRecord.com Home Renovations

Home Renovations

BUILDER/ GENERAL Contractors LIC# T85-4420956 Residential/ Commercial. Complete Restoration. Finished Basements. Painting. Bathrooms. Ceramic Tiles. Flat Roofs. Leaking Basements. Brick/ Chimney Repairs. House Additions 905-764-6667, 416-823-5120

CEILINGS REPAIRED. Spray textures, plaster designs, stucco, drywall, paint. We fix them all! www.mrstucco.ca 416-242-8863 RAZNO RENOVATION. Drywall. Plastering. Plumbing. Ceramic Tiles. Painting. Flooring. Carpentry. Windows. Doors. Electrical. Bathrooms. Showers. Kitchens. Basements. Masonry (416)570-7330 rluztono@gmail.com

Articles Wanted

ANTIQUES

& Collectibles Wanted Cash for Older: Coins, Jewelry, Military, Watches, Toys, Barbies, Silver, Gold, Records, Old Postcards/Photos, Guitars, Old Pens, Lighters & Old Advertising etc.

25 years experience Richard & Janet 416-431-7180 416-566-7373 Waste Removal

Waste Removal

PETER’S DEPENDABLE JUNK REMOVAL

From home or business, including furniture/ appliances, construction waste. Quick & careful!

416-677-3818 Rock Bottom Rates!

diversions

You paid how much!?

Dating Services

Everyone you know disgustingly happy and in love? Isn’t it time you did something serious about your single state? Misty River Introductions can find that special someone for you to spend the rest of your life with.

(416)777-6302 www.mistyriverintros.com Dating Services

Dating Services

Available Bachelorette Sandra is a lovely, kind, & beautiful woman who works in real estate. Sandra has been single for 3 years, she is divorced, she had left her husband after she found out he was cheating on her. However, she is not one to dwell on the past, she is ready for an amazing future with an amazing man! Sandra is a very positive, happy person who loves to bring a smile to peoples face. She is very outdoorsy, loves to ride her bike, hiking, jet skiing, zip lining, swimming, traveling, and have a backyard barbeques for friends, neighbors and family. Ready to join, Ready to meet, Ready for love 100% Confidential, 100% Offline, 100% Personalized Matchmakers Select 1-888-916-2824 www.selectintroductions.com Agriculture, remote, country, rural est 13 years guaranteed service, customised memberships, thorough screening process

#ShouldaUsedToronto

YOUR Weekly Crossword

New member of the family ? Share the News! Call 1-800-743-3353 to place your ad

Want to get your business noticed? Call 1-800-743-3353 to plan your advertising campaign today!

Make cash not trash!

Sudoku (challenging)

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.

last week’s answers

CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015 |

w See answers to this week’s

puzzles in next Thursday’s edition

blood pressure, muscle pain, restless legs and twitchy eyelids? You need MAGsmart a delicious powdered magnesium glycinate formula to calm restless legs , soothe muscle pain , stop heart palpitations, normalize blood pressure and aid restful sleep . MAGsmart is the best form of magnesium because it is the only magnesium that crosses the blood brain barrier, helping those with headaches and anxiety , and it does not cause explosive diarrhea like other magnesium supplements. MAGsmart also stops the pain of fibromyalgia . Take MAGsmart at bedtime to improve sleep, stop anxiety and restless legs. Nothing works faster than MAGsmart too get g rid of muscle pain .

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| CITY CENTRE MIRROR | Thursday, February 5, 2015

Are you suffering with high

Looking for something fun to do on Family Day? Enter for your chance to win a family pass for four to Legoland® Discovery Centre at 1 Bass Pro Mills Drive in Vaughan Mills!

Prize very generously donated by:

to enter, visit insidetoronto.com/contests LEGO, the LEGO logo and LEGOLAND are trademarks of the LEGO Group ©2015 The LEGO Group. All children (17 and under) must be accompanied by an adult (18 years +). Adults (18 years+) will not be admitted without a child. No purchase necessary. Contest open to Toronto residents 18 years of age or older. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. One (1) prize will be awarded. Retail value of prize is approximately $96+applicable taxes. Contest closes Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 11:59pm. To enter and for complete contest rules visit insidetoronto.com/contests

hormonehelp.com

A publication of

@MetrolandTO

Metroland Media Toronto

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WE BELIEVE EVERYONE IN ONTARIO DESERVES THE BEST HEALTH CARE. How will the Ontario government’s cuts to health care affect you and your family? · Longer wait times · Reduced access to quality care · A health care system that doesn’t work for Ontario’s patients

TELL THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP PUTTING THEIR POLITICS AHEAD OF YOUR CARE. Take action at OntariosDoctors.com

We are Ontario’s Doctors. And we put patients first.