January 3 by The East York Mirror

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Leaside tykes in action

Staff photo/IAN KELSO

DEFENDING THE NET: Leaside players defend their net against a Faustina rush during Carl Gordaneer Memorial Christmas Tournament tyke action at the Mastercard Centre in Etobicoke on Saturday. Faustina won the game by a score of 5-0.

New Year’s baby born at Toronto East General Toronto East General Hospital welcomed a new year’s baby earlier this week. Charlotte Greene was born at the East York hospital at 3:19 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 1 Charlotte, who weighed in at seven pounds and three ounces, was the first baby born at East Gen eral in 2013. For a photo of Charlotte with her mom, Liz Marshall, please see page 12.

Brick Works honours history with art JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Evergreen Brick Works is paying homage to its history with the addition of a new art installation adorning a portion of its parking lot. Toronto artists Dan Bergeron and Paul Aloisi painted the piece, dubbed Underground Kiln, on the parking lot’s surface, serving as a reminder of the Brick Works original purpose as a place where some 40 million bricks were produced each year. The piece shows a birds-eye view outline of one of the old brick firing kilns that once adorned the site. “There used to be four chimneys (at the Brick Works) and now there’s only one,” said Evergreen

Brick Works spokesperson Anthony Westenberg. “People can now stand right where the chimney was and look straight up to see where it would have been.” A portion of the parking lot was closed off throughout much of November to allow Bergeron and Aloisi to paint the piece. It fits along with some of the other artwork on display at Evergreen, including images of some of the site’s former brickmakers adorning the walls. “It’s a way of giving a cultural and industrial nod through an artistic lens,” Westenberg said. “It’s a nice way of reminding people this place was here long before (Evergreen

was) here.” The painting was made possible with funding from StreetARToronto (StART), a public/private grant program that aims to support and promote street art throughout the city. StART has also funded some of the other art on the site, and the Brick Works will hold graffiti tours in addition to its usual sustainability tours and art tours in the spring. “Based upon archeological plans of the excavated site, we painted a bird’s eye view of the kiln and its surroundings on the parking lot that now covers the physical foundation still underground,” Bergeron said. “This rendition allowed us to highlight how the technology of the past intersects with how the site

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is used today, and helps visualize the layers of interconnected human marks left on this historic site.” Painting on the parking lot surface was labour-intensive, with the artists having to completely clean and dry the surface and apply a protective resin on top to ensure the art does not get worn away quickly through normal wear and tear from cars and pedestrians. While the piece has already attracted attention from Evergreen visitors, there is still work to be done to ensure it gains the attention it deserves in terms of educating people about the Brick Works’ history.“We still need to put up interpretive signs so people know what they’re looking at,” Westenberg said.

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THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013 |

Community

Skaters can take to ice

Holiday skating schedules are in effect at outdoor and indoor rinks across the area while school is still out. At East York Memorial Arena, 888 Cosburn Ave., the holiday schedule resumes every day from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. until Sunday, Jan. 6. At Angela James Arena in Flemingdon Park is available until tomorrow. The Dieppe Park outdoor rink also offers unsupervised skating opportunities and shinny at some times. Skaters can also take to the ice at the Evergreen Brick Works’s outdoor ice rink, weather permitting. Limited skate rentals will also be available, with a suggested donation of five dollars. Children under the age of 12 must be supervised by an adult. For more information visit www.evergreen.ca For a full list of city-operated skating sites open over the holidays and beyond visit www.toronto.ca

| THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013

eym@insidetoronto.com

Skater Cindy takes to the ice at Dieppe Park in East York recently. Local skaters have a number of opportunities to hit the ice this week. Staff photo/NICK PERRY

Local resident Clark named Toronto’s Poet Laureate JOANNA LAVOIE jlavoie@insidetoronto.com George Elliott Clarke is both honoured and excited to take on his latest adventure as Toronto’s fourth Poet Laureate. Enthusiastically passionate about the written word, the east Toronto resident was officially appointed by Toronto City Council for a three-year term as the city’s latest Poet Laureate recently. “It’s an interesting appointment. I’m humbled and thrilled to be allowed this opportunity,” he said during a recent interview, of his new task to “muse publicly about citizenship, literacy and poetry in everyday life.” “The job description is beautifully open.” Clarke, who has lived throughout Toronto over the years but currently resides near Gerrard Street and Victoria Park Avenue, said he’s honoured to follow in “fantastic footsteps” pointing to previous Poet Laureates Dennis Lee (the first municipal Poet Laureate in Canada), Pier Giorgio di Cicco and Dionne Brand. A highly decorated Canadian,

GEORGE ELLIOTT CLARK

who holds eight honourary doctorates as well as three university degrees, Clarke was nominated for this prestigious role by a selection committee comprised of Brand, Joanna Poblocka (executive director of the League of Canadian Poets), Lillian Necakov-Avalos (branch head of the Toronto Public Library), Andrew McAlorum (general editor of Canadian Poetry Online) and Marc Glassman (director of This is Not a

Reading Series). During his tenure, Clarke, an associate professor of Canadian and diasporic literature at the University of Toronto (specifically the E.J. Pratt Professor of Canadian Literature) as well as a poet, dramatist and novelist, said he expects to make at least one or two public appearances each month. Clarke, the author of at least a dozen poetry books as well as plays, libretti (dramatic musical works), academic essays and a novel, has also been charged with coming up with a legacy project for the people of Toronto. Appointed to the Order of Nova Scotia and the Order of Canada two years later, he said he’s got several ideas in mind to make his mark and “remind people poetry is everywhere” including organizing a public concert featuring poets who are also singers/songwriters, enhancing and revitalizing the TTC’s “Poetry on the Way” program and working to have new city streets names after famed Toronto poets. Clarke also pointed to working with the organizers of the Toronto International Film Festival and Harbourfront Centre to foster poetry

and art in the city. Further, he also said he’d explore opportunities for corporate sponsors as well as those in the Canadian advertising industry to invest and get involved in increasing the visibility of poetry. Diverse communication “There are so many ways poetry could be more publicly and audibly presented in the eyes and minds of people in Toronto. There are lots of opportunities to incorporate poetry into everyday life, even at city hall,” Clarke said of the “diverse means of communication.” “I hope to leave behind a legacy that will be inspiring to the people that follow me.” His predecessors’ contributions include an ambitious program by Lee that saw the 2008 unveiling of a monument of contemporary poet Al Purdy at Queen’s Park. di Ciccio used his role as Port Laureate to influence municipal policy in issues surrounding the urban aesthetic and its relationship to liveable and sustainable cities, while Brand’s legacy is the promotion of poetry in the public realm through the website

www.poetryispublic.ca as well as the temporary and permanent poetry displays in Toronto Public Library branches. Clarke, who was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia in 1960, is a seventh generation Canadian of AfricanAmerican and Mi’kmaq Amerindian heritage, is known for exploring topics of cultural diversity in his works. “I’m very interested in our progress towards an inclusive and dynamically diverse society,” said Clarke, who was awarded the Governor General’s Award for Poetry and the National Magazine Gold Medal for Poetry in 2001, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award in 2004, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellowship Prize from 2005 to 2008, the Dartmouth Book Award for fiction in 2006 and the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Poetry in 2009. Further, he’s also been instrumental in promoting the work of writers of African descent through his 2002 book Odysseys Home: Mapping African-Canadian Literature as well as his recently published second volume, Directions Home: Approaches to African-Canadian Literature.

Effective driver training is proven to save lives.

You’ll always want what is best for your child. When it comes to driver training, you cannot cut corners. Young Drivers of Canada teaches in-car life-saving emergency braking and swerving techniques. Knowing how to drive safely means having the skills to react to the unexpected. Flexible payment options. Keep insurance costs low. For course dates or to enroll online, visit www.yd.com. 30 classroom locations across GTA including Toronto Downtown, Pape & Danforth, Yonge & Eglinton Now enrolling for courses starting: Jan. 8, 12 & 26th Phone: 647-547-9232

THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013 |

Opinion Ian Proudfoot Marg Middleton Peter Haggert Alan Shackleton Warren Elder Angela Carruthers Debra Weller Mike Banville

eym@insidetoronto.com

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Being healthy helps entire community

ow that we’re already three days into 2013, a number of our readers may already be struggling with the New Year’s resolutions they made Tuesday morning. Don’t fear, however, as the City of Toronto’s Public Health department is available to offer you some help. “If your New Year’s resolution is to be healthier, Toronto Public Health (TPH) is here to support you throughout the year,” said Catherine Clarke, manager of healthy living, in a press release this week. That’s good, because healthy residents benefit the entire community in so many ways. People who feel better have more energy, and are able to be more involved and effective members of their workforce, their families and their communities. A our view healthier population as a whole also eases stresses and costs on Take first our health care system. step to better So often, well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions are health in 2013 quickly tossed aside because they are just too hard to accomplish and those who make them become discouraged. That’s where TPH is offering some specific help to local residents. For those who want to quit smoking, TPH has 1,000 free quit kits available for residents. The kits include sugarless gum, a stress ball, a toothbrush and other items to help those trying to quit smoking deal with their cravings. Those looking for some personal advice, can also call a TPH nurse at 416-338-7974. There’s more specific information on quitting smoking online at www.toronto.ca/health/smokefree/quittingsmoking There’s also help for those looking to get more exercise or improve their eating habits in 2013. TPH advises residents to eat healthy by cutting down on portion sizes, reading labels for calorie and sodium counts, and asking restaurant staff for nutritional information when ordering food. Many city restaurants already offer such information online. There are also TPH registered dieticians available to offer advice by calling 416-338-7600, and more info is online at www.toronto.ca/health/nutrition One of the best ways to start getting healthier is to get more exercise, and TPH says that’s as simple as just getting out into your neighbourhood and taking a walk. For inspiration, there’s a pedometer lending program offered through Toronto Public Libraries. More info at www.toronto.ca/health/walkintohealth Walking is easy and it’s also a great way to get to know your community better. We encourage all our readers to take that first step to better health in 2013. newsroom

Write us The East York 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 East York Mirror, 175 Gordon Baker Rd., Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2.

To the editor: I would like to thank you for the beautiful front pages on The Mirror during Christmas week. I was visiting my daughter in Scarborough and commented to her on the beautiful cover on the front page of her paper. Then, I got home to East York to another beautiful newspaper cover, done by a local artist. It’s a great idea, and so nice to share with the newspaper readers. It also gives exposure to the local artists, as there is some great talent out there, that many local residents aren’t aware of. I’d love to see this done regularly in your newspapers. Eleanor Franklin

Waiting to see new political strategies for 2013

o now that we have entered into the new year, what exactly are we facing? We have the same mayor, an absent provincial premier and generally more pessimism than we had for the past few years. Certainly the general feeling that people expressed when they went to the municipal ballot boxes two years ago was one of exasperation with the status quo. The majority of the people wanted change and many wanted it quickly. Change is what happened and in many ways it was sweeping in its scope throughout the city and eliminated far too many much needed programs and projects. The Liberals in Queen’s Park are now somewhat out of office once Ontario’s citizens came to see what the real cost of many of their

watchdog

Joe Cooper

political decisions. Likewise the citizen’s of Toronto showed that they really were not paying attention to the candidates and issues in the municipal election. This was demonstrated when a carefully constructed public relations persona was voted into the mayor’s office rather than the person who actually governed the city. Given the feelings of injustices and grievances needing to be resolved, there was a great sense of expectation when both Rob Ford and Dalton McGuinty were elected. The problem, though, is that nothing really hap-

pened. In what has had to be one of the shortest honeymoon periods on record, the McGuinty government at Queen’s Park began faltering on campaign promises. The only time the Liberals seemed to show any resolve was in keeping party status away from the NDP. Mayor Rob Ford faired better at the start of his mayoralty by actually delivering some of the more easier to deliver promises, such as the elimination of the vehicle tax. That, however, was the easy part. The reality of Toronto’s need to fix its crumbling infrastructure and improve its public transportation has proven to be beyond his political skill to manage. The fact of the matter is that at both the provincial and municipal level we

are now facing the consequences of nearly a decade of neo-conservative fiscal policy. The bottom line for all of the changes that have taken place over the past 10 years is going to be ending up in your mailbox very soon if you are a home owner. It’s your municipal tax bill, and just as was predicted during the anti-amalgamation fight in 1997, it will reflect yet another tax increase with fewer services to show for it. So the question now for our political leaders is what will their strategy be now that they have a new year in place? Now, let’s see what happens in 2013. n Joe Cooper is a longtime East York resident and community activist. His column appears every Thursday. Contact him at eym@insidetoronto.com

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Opinion

To the editor: How furious would you be if your employer told you the benefits you negotiated at the time of your employment were no longer afforded to you and your colleagues? Then imagine how much your blood would boil if they told you your right to fight this decision was also taken away. Finally, think about the extra hours that you put in that are not appreciated, but you understand their importance to make the company and/or your clients more successful. If reading this has got you thinking someone must have lost their mind if they tried to pull this at your job, then maybe we should collectively be more supportive of the teachers in Ontario. Develop and guide Without teachers helping us all along the way, we might not have accomplished the successes we have been blessed to achieve. Think about that teacher that stayed after school with you to help you with math, coached your team or came in early to meet with your parents to help with your development or guidance. The time that they put in at all levels of education should be rewarded, but instead their profession has been dimin-

ished to the fact they get off before 5 p.m. and have summers off. Without going into detail of Ontario’s Bill 115, teachers are losing several benefits that were negotiated in past contracts, and there have been many people weighing in on the topic. In the lunchroom at work I heard a few of my colleagues saying that their tax dollars are being paid to have teacher’s teach, so too bad so sad for them.

their hearts desire. For teachers to make this happen they are always trying to find creative ways to help each student learn and become better throughout the year. This is accomplished by bringing work home to mark, countless hours making tests, quizzes and assignments that focus on the topics being taught, fielding questions from parents, holding meetings, interviews and report cards.

Holidays

Several hats

They went on to say that they wish they could be off at 3:30 p.m. and have the luxury of all the holidays they get. Wait a minute! If you are thinking that all that goes into teaching is the above then you really are mistaken and should re-assess the hard work our teachers do. I am not a teacher, however, I see firsthand every day the hard work and care that goes into a teacher’s preparation and sacrifice for their students by watching my wife, who is a teacher. Teaching is not as simple as just writing on a chalkboard and hoping for the best. Teachers are responsible for helping their students understand the material, protecting them and truly attempting to help them succeed in whatever profession

Teachers need to be quick on their feet if something happens during yard duty, further the teachings of manners at all levels of education and encourage students to be well rounded by recognizing talents their students might be too shy or scared to tap into within the school and beyond. Teachers need to wear several hats as managers, social workers, nurses, police officers, consultants, engineers (science projects), artists, and more. Our teachers need to be appreciated and not treated like they are a second-class profession, because we all have benefited from at least one teacher in our lives.

Council peace in 2013 unlikely

mid all the handwringing about vacant mayor’s offices and crumbling highways, one might be forgiven for missing one of the most reliable news stories of the winter months. Toronto is making a budget, and over the next few weeks, will be performing the final pieces of the ritual to make it complete. Late last year, the city’s budget committee finished their tinkering with the $9.4 billion budget. It was (and remains) a plan designed to attract a minimum of tinkering at council. Budget Chief Mike Del Grande moved at the end of the process to increase property taxes a sliver more than the original proposal had intended — they’re going up two per cent rather than 1.95 per cent — and allocated the $1.15 million to restore services in areas where citizens had made what he considered a good case. That didn’t happen last year, and when the budget proceeded to council,

the city

david nickle councillors tore it to pieces and rebuilt it – $15 million fatter – pulling money from reserves to do so. Del Grande doesn’t want to see that happen again this year; so much so that he’s vowed to quit if council does anything else with the plan he’s presented. Some of his colleagues have snickeringly suggested this might be an excellent way to find themselves a new budget chief. But really, the budget going forward will be difficult to make changes on. The budget cuts firefighter positions, and as a policy move council might reverse that. Similarly, the trimmed police service budget

approved by the Toronto Police Services Board and scorned by Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair might get another look. Council could look at restoring money to child care, homeless shelters and other pieces of social infrastructure. And there are some on council, like Parkdale-High Park Councillor Gord Perks, who are concerned the city is paying too much cash for capital projects such as road work, comparing the move to buying a house with all the money up front. The mayor (because he’s the kind of mayor he is) might, if still in office by the time the budget’s debated mid-January, take issue with that property tax hike. Nobody ever made any money betting on peace at Toronto Council, and I won’t now. n David Nickle is Toronto Community News’ city hall columnist. His column appears every Thursday. Contact him at dnickle@ insidetoronto.com

Toronto CASINO C o n s u l t a t i o n

Danion Beckford The City ofToronto is looking for public input before making a decision on the establishment of a new casino. What do you want the City to consider? Learn, discuss and provide your views and feedback.

Join us online: www.toronto.ca/casinoconsultation Download a workbook and/or complete an online feedback form.

Come to a Community Discussion Join us at a community open house and discussion to learn more about the process and issues, talk with City staff, and join discussion groups on key topics. Drop-in anytime during one of the events below: Wednesday January 9

Saturday January 12

Monday January 14

Thursday January 17

Saturday January 19

City Hall Rotunda Toronto City Hall

NorthYork Memorial Hall

Etobicoke Olympium Gymnasium

Scarborough Civic Centre Rotunda

100 Queen St. W.

1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Bluma Appel Salon Reference Library

6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

5110Yonge St.

590 Rathburn Rd. 150 Borough Dr. 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

For more information please visit www.toronto.ca/casinoconsultation

789Yonge St. 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

| THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013

Appreciate teachers for the hard work they do

THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013 |

Community

Special visitors important to hospital patients RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com Recently, two Toronto professional athletes spread some holiday joy to some children in need of it. For a couple of hours, Toronto Marlies hockey player Mike Zigomanis and George Kottaras, a catcher with the Oakland Athletics, handed out gifts, candy canes and teddy bears to young patients at Toronto East General Hospital. Beary Merry The athletes visited coincided with The East York Mirror’s annual Beary Merry Christmas visit which hands out teddy bears to youngsters who have to spend the holidays in hospital. Dressed in the jerseys of their pro teams, Zigomanis and Kottaras, both originally from Scarborough, hung out with child patients admitted in the hospital’s pediatric and emergency departments, playing video games, posing

for pictures and handing out autographed photos to the excited kids and their parents. Zigomanis, who recently re-signed with the American Hockey League Calder Cup finalist Marlies for another season, said the visit to the hospital was a reminder for him of the hardships suffered by children forced to spend the holidays in a hospital room. “It’s nice to spend time with people who are not able to get out of the hospital for Christmas and maybe going through a hard time,” said Zigomanis who has played for five NHL teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs over the course of his 11-year pro career. “I just try to brighten someone’s day for a couple of hours and anything helps. It puts things into perspective, absolutely.” The event was made possible by hard work of of hospital volunteers, said TEGH spokesperson Justin Van Dette.

“Kids smile when they experience something unexpected like pro athletes visiting them,” said Van Dette, community relations manager for the hospital’s foundation. Tradition “It’s a nice distraction and seeing a recognizable face in person goes a long way.” Van Dette said he wanted to make the Christmas Eve visit a tradition for the hospital and have one take place every year. New York Islander winger Brad Boyes also visited the hospital with his family for around three hours on the weekend before Christmas, said Van Dette. Zigomanis, who led the Marlies in scoring during the 2011-12 AHL season, said he relished the opportunity to take part in the visit as he and his family have close ties to the hospital. “It’s nice to go somewhere you can relate and is close to home,” he said.

Staff photos/DAN PEARCE

Above, Laura Nagasaka, right, Donna Power, Elly Triantafilou and Paris Quinn of The East York Mirror join children and their families for a Beary Merry Christmas presentation in the Toronto East General Hospital pediatric department. The Beary Merry campaign presents teddy bears to young patients in hospital over the holidays. Below, Toronto Marlies player Mike Zigomanis, left, and the Oakland Athletics’ George Kottaras join the holiday fun during a visit to the Toronto East General Hospital pediatric department recently.

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How are we doing? Your feedback matters to us! Customer Support:

416-774-2284 The East York Mirror is dedicated to delivering a positive experience to our customers!

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| THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013

THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013 |

NADbank, ComBase: Adults 18+, print and online

DO THE MATH. ADVERTISE IN THE NEWSPAPER.

It’s Happening New Year’s Kids Club at Leaside Presbyterian Church WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: Leaside Presbyterian Church, 670 Eglinton Ave. E. (north, west corner of Hanna) CONTACT: Phyllis Spence, 416-422-0510, www.leasidepresbyterianchurch. ca, admin@leasidepresbyterianchurch.ca COST: $30-$125 For children in JK to Grade 7 with youth in Grade 8 and up appreciated as helpers. There will be music, crafts, baking, outside play and much more. Call to volunteer or to register. Special assistance and subsidized spaces available.

■ Sunday, Jan. 6

Sunday Afternoon Euchre WHEN: 12:30 p.m. WHERE: Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 22, 1240 Woodbine Ave. CONTACT: Jim Farrell, 416425-1714, www.facebook. com/groups/4651583595, jimb. farrell@yahoo.ca COST: $5 Come out Sunday afternoons. Everyone welcome.

■ Sunday, Jan.6

The Imposters WHEN: 2 to 6 p.m. WHERE: Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 11, 9 Dawes Rd. CONTACT: J. Haden, 416-264-6466, bjhaden@rogers.com COST: $20 advanced tickets per person $25

at door. Female impersonators. Just like a Las Vegas show.

■ Monday, Jan. 7

Monday Night Cribbage WHEN: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. WHERE: Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 22, 1240 Woodbine Ave. CONTACT: Jim Farrell, 416-425-1714, www.facebook. com/groups/4651583595, jimb. farrell@yahoo.ca COST: $6.00 Come out Monday nights for an evening of cribbage. All Welcome

■ Thursday, Jan. 10

Leaside Garden Society WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Leaside Public Library, 165 McRea Dr. CONTACT: Nora Campbell, 416481-8919 COST: Free Guest speaker: Sonia Day, Incredible Edibles to grow in your garden. Refreshments at 7 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Guests and new members welcome. Annual membership $25 and family $30. Visit www. leasidegardensociety.org

■ Friday, Jan. 11

Open Mike Jammers WHEN: 8 to 11 p.m. WHERE: Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 11, 9 Dawes Rd. CONTACT: J. Haden, 416-264-6466, bjhaden@rogers.com COST: Free A variety of musicians get together and have a great time.

| THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013

■ Friday, Jan. 4

insidetoronto.com ■ Monday, Jan. 14

Monday Night Cribbage WHEN: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. WHERE: Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 22, 1240 Woodbine Ave. CONTACT: Jim Farrell, 416-425-1714, www.facebook. com/groups/4651583595, jimb. farrell@yahoo.ca COST: $6 Come out Monday nights for an evening of cribbage. All Welcome.

■ Wednesday, Jan. 16

Riverdale Arts & Letters Club WHEN: 6 p.m. WHERE: Riverdale Public Library, 370 Broadview Ave. CONTACT: Riverdale Branch, 416-393-7720 COST: Free Bring your own book or recommend books or types of books you would like to discuss (Biography? Mystery? Fiction? Non-fiction?) Also book swap, bring one take one away.

■ Submit Your Event

The East York Mirror wants your community listings. Whether it’s a church knitting group or a music night or a non-profit group’s program for kids, The Mirror wants to know about it so others can attend. Sign up online at insidetoronto.com to submit your events (click the Sign Up link in the top right corner of the page).

HOLIDAY HELPING HANDS

Staff photos/DAN PEARCE

WELTERWEIGHT HELPS SERVE: Above, Patricia Jacques, left, Logan Pierson and Lorna Cassels work on creating meals during the Salvation Army-East Toronto Citadel Christmas dinner. At right, UFC welterweight Sean Pierson performs a bit of a balancing act as he serves meals during the event.

East York New Year’s Levee Sunday, January 6, 2013 1 - 3 p.m. East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Avenue

Residents of East York are invited to welcome in the New Year with your elected representatives: Councillor Janet Davis Councillor Mary Fragedakis TDSB Trustee Sheila Cary-Meagher TDSB Trustee Cathy Dandy

MPP Michael Prue MPP Peter Tabuns MP Matthew Kellway MP Craig Scott

THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013 |

Active

active@insidetoronto.com

Australian Football at Monarch Park LEARNING THE GAME: At right, Bruce Parker shows Thomas Lonski the proper way to kick the ball at the Central Blues Australian Football Club’s free indoor training session of Australian Football Saturday at the Monarch Park Stadium dome. At top, Bruce Parker passes the ball to Pam White. At left, Ben Meehan takes a pass during the training session.

Staff photos by Dan Pearce

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| THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013

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THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013 |

Community

NEW YEAR’S BABY BORN AT TORONTO EAST GENERAL

Seniors’ dinner an East York tradition RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com On Christmas Day, hundreds of seniors were treated to a festive dinner as part of a longtime East York holiday tradition. Approximately 230 invited guests dined on roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables and more during the annual East York Seniors Christmas Dinner at the East York Community Centre. Toronto-Danforth Councillor Mary Fragedakis and volunteers were on hand to hand out gift bags to the seniors, who were also treated to a special cake commemorating the event’s 30th anniversary. “It’s a great tradition,” said Fragedakis. “It’s really nice a lot of people want to share their holiday with others in the community.” The first seniors’ Christmas dinner was held back in 1982 by then East York mayor David Johnson. The tradition has been maintained throughout the years by former mayor Michael Prue, former city councillor Case Ootes and now Fragedakis, who was first elected in 2010. “When I took office, the first 20 calls I took were from people in community wondering if I would cancel Christmas dinner,” said Fragedakis. “I said, “Of course not; that’s akin to firing Santa Claus.’” The guests received their tickets for the dinner by lining up at the East York Civic Centre over two days in December. Approximately 215 advance tickets were given out

Photo/WILLIAM MEIJER

WELCOME BABY: Charlotte Greene, who was born on New Year’s Day at 3:19 a.m. weighing seven pounds, three ounces, gets the full attention of her mother, Liz Marshall, at Toronto East General Hospital on Tuesday.

Photo/CONSTANTINA FRAGEDAKIS

Ali Chatur, right, has plates loaded up with holiday fare to serve to guests during the East York Seniors’ Christmas Dinner on Dec. 25.

for the popular event which took a month to organize. Local seniors were given priority. Led by long-time volunteer Kam Babulal, approximately 50 organizers took part in organizing the dinner, from initial set-up to serving the meal and taking part in clean-up afterward. And Santa Claus, as he’s done for the last 30 years, was also on hand to exchange Christmas greetings with the guests. All of the food served at the dinner was prepared by Sammy’s Eatery, located at 158 O’Connor Dr. Beaches-East York MPP Prue, Beaches-East York Councillor

Janet Davis and Don Valley West Councillor John Parker were also at the event. Fragedakis, whose mother, father and sister all volunteered at the event said the dinner was an opportunity to provide local seniors, many of whom were widowed or without family, with some much needed Christmas cheer. “Helping people less fortunate and serving the elderly a good meal and providing people with an opportunity to come together speaks to who we are as East Yorkers and Torontonians,” she said. “It just speaks to our humanity.”

New Year’s levee Sunday at East York Civic Centre This Sunday, elected officials from all levels of government representing Toronto-Danforth and Beaches-East York will exchange new year’s greetings with residents. Between 200 and 300 people are expected to turn up for the levee from 1 to 3 p.m. at the East York

Civic Centre, said Beaches-East York Councillor Janet Davis, who called the levee part of the “protocol” for ushering in the new year. For more information about the levee, contact Davis’ office at 416-392-4035. Scheduled to attend the East York levee are Toronto-Danforth MP

Craig Scott, Beaches-East York MP Matthew Kellway, Toronto-Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns, Beaches-East York MPP Michael Prue, TorontoDanforth councillors Paula Fletcher and Mary Fragedakis, and BeachesEast York Councillors Mary-Margaret McMahon and Davis.

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| THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013

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| THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013

THE MIRROR e | Thursday, January 3, 2013 |

DOWNTOWN TOYOTA 2 DAYS ONLY! JANUARY 4 & 5

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