The East York Mirror, March 23, 2017

THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2017

SUSAN GUCCI b.c o m m., b ro k e r

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ONLINE at insidetoronto.com News, events and information on your desktop, laptop or mobile device

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Events Calendar

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Jonah Arens, 3, (left) Catharine Corbin, 2, and Sania Douglas, 2, play with puzzles at the Dentonia Park Co-operative Nursery School Tuesday, March 21.

Nursery school hoping to avert closure JOANNA LAVOIE jlavoie@insidetoronto.com A well-loved east Toronto resource is facing an uncertain future.

The Dentonia Park Co-operative Nursery School, which is located in the lower level of Faith Presbyterian Community

Church at 140 Dawes Rd., just north of Danforth Avenue, has been struggling with enrolment challenges in recent years. To remain afloat, the not-for-profit school, which welcomes children ages 2 to 4 for a half-day program, must have at least a dozen students confirmed for the 2017-2018 school year.

"If we don’t get 12 children enrolled by April 15 we will be closing," said Clifton Corbin, whose two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Catharine attends the local nursery school.

"Register now. We can’t afford for you to wait. We are guaranteed to be open for another year if we can get four or five new fami-

lies to join."

Parent Amy Demoulin, who is also the president of the board of directors, said there are a number of reasons why enrolment is down. She pointed to the fact more and more parents in the city need to return to work after a

See what’s happening by visiting our online community calendar. www.insidetoronto.com/events

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l See SCHOOL, page 12

WHATS ON

East York Mirror | Thursday, March 23, 2017 |

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Join our Community!

Sign up for spring sprint

We are one of 45 communities across Ontario taking part in the Healthy Kids Community Challenge! Join us on social media for more information on upcoming events, programs & resources!

Registration is now open for the 30th annual Beaches Spring Sprint.

This year’s run will be held on Saturday, April 1.

The event, which helps support community programs at the Beaches Recreation Centre, kicks off at 9:30 a.m.

An awards ceremony

Until March 24th, kids ages 6-12 in Danforth-East York can enter the 10-5-2-1-0 Challenge for a chance to win a new bike! healthykidstoronto.com/eastyork/105210-challenge

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Public relations and corporate communications students in Centennial College’s postgraduate certificate program are hosting Gaming for Growth, a family fundraiser to help support Nellie’s, a shelter for women and children.

In Canada, 83 per cent of reported domestic violence attacks are against women.

Nellie’s was able to respond to more than 1,000

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will follow at 11:15 a.m. at the Balmy Beach Club at the foot of Beech Avenue.

The Beaches Spring Sprint includes a five- and two-kilometre run/walk along the Beach boardwalk.

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The evening will feature appetizers, cocktails and games, including board games, ping pong, pool, foosball and an assortment of video games.

The funds raised will also help fund Nellie’s community assistance programs.

calls on their crisis hotline and provide shelter and food to 83 women and 35 children in 2015.

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COMMUNITY

3

City councillors say cash stores target the ’most vulnerable’ MIKE ADLER madler@insidetoronto.com

Dan Pearce/Metroland

Payday lenders tend to cluster in areas where people with low incomes or on social assistance need help making ends meet. There are several near the intersection of Morningside Avenue and Kingston Road in Scarborough. The City of Toronto has asked the province to tighten rules for payday lenders. collection practices," and minimum distances between cash shops.

On Jan. 1, the province reduced the maximum $21 payday lenders charged for a short-term $100-loan to $18. A $15-limit is proposed for next January.

Irwin said Alberta imposed a $15 limit last August, and "virtually extinguished" the payday industry there, though he acknowledged "not a lot" of Alberta cash stores have closed yet.

If rates go to $15 per $100, the Independent PayDay Loan Association of Cana-

da told the province, independent cash stores "will have to shut down entirely, or they will have to resort to lending a far higher per cent of net pay than the 50 per cent currently being offered by them."

The group also argues unregulated online lenders - many operating from offshore and using search advertising to find customers in the U.S. - could scoop their business if it gets harder for Ontario consumers to reach regulated lenders.

Many, however, think Bill 59 won’t go far enough.

Jagmeet Singh, deputy leader and Consumer Affairs critic for Ontario’s New Democrats, says the legislation doesn’t cap annual interest rates for payday loans or allow borrowers to pay them back using instalments, instead of the entire principal and interest at the same time.

That practice, Singh said, "puts people already in difficult financial positions in a worse financial position."

By allowing cash shops to get around rules keeping a lender from charging more than 60 per cent inter-

est a year, Augimeri charges, the province is condoning "highway robbery."

Should the storefront lenders vanish, however, opponents don’t believe the need for quick cash will disappear.

Toronto ACORN, a group representing lowerincome residents, told the province more than half its members need to use "high interest" lenders "because mainstream financial services have failed them."

The federal government should force banks "to create an alternative to payday and instalment loans

insidetoronto.com

Toronto councillors want the province to help the city restrict cash shops they see as predators in their neighbourhoods.

But payday lenders warn proposed new rules and caps on charges will cause them to shut storefronts down, driving Torontonians desperate for cash to online lenders operating outside the law.

"People who need it will go somewhere else," Tony Irwin, president of the Canadian Consumer Finance Association, which includes Money Mart and other payday lenders, predicted last week.

If the brightly-coloured storefronts do close, their owners won’t get sympathy from Maria Augimeri, a North York councillor who has seen cash shops open in her ward as smaller bank branches shut down.

She dismissed the argument that payday lenders offer necessary services for people who need cash.

"It’s a lure. You don’t make ends meet through these payday loans. You get further into debt," said Augimeri.

"Small, struggling communities don’t make for a successful bank, but they do make for a successful usury shop."

Paul Ainslie says people in his East Scarborough ward have gotten second payday loans to pay for the first, since interest and overdraft fees can add up to more than the loan itself.

"They don’t understand what they’re being hit with," added Ainslie, who’d like to see cash shops in his area shut down.

With Bill 59, the Putting Consumers First Act, Ontario’s Liberal government is proposing extended repayment periods, more time between loans, more rules covering "unfair debt

at low interest and with extended repayment terms," ACORN said.

Singh said the province itself could help provide affordable credit or "micro financing," and raising its minimum wage would help relieve financial pressures for many.

Frances Nunziata, a Toronto councillor who contends payday lenders in her Weston neighbourhood target "the most vulnerable" and are "almost like loan sharks" in interest charged, represented the city at Bill 59 hearings last month. Toronto asked for an interest cap, and supported "microcredits" or other alternatives that can fill "the current credit gap."

People on social assistance have a hard time not living beyond their means.

For some, going to cash shops "becomes a bi-weekly or monthly act," said Ansley Dawson, financial empowerment superintendent with WoodGreen Community Services in East Toronto.

Collection agencies "can be aggressive in inappropriate ways" trying to recover such loans, creating "a lot of stress and mental duress for our clients," Dawson said.

WoodGreen, through a free financial empowerment program (call 416-6456000, ext. 1330 or write to fe@woodgreen.org), helps people find out what their rights are, and to take steps on a long journey toward financial stability.

Dawson said the agency works with clients of all ages and ability so they can meet basic needs.

In 2012, the city introduced reloadable social services benefits cards which, for residents on social assistance, are meant to eliminate need for cheque-cashing services, a profitable sideline of the cash shops.

On Jan. 31, Toronto Council approved a motion from Ainslie calling for public consultations on payday loans "to propose further changes if needed."

Read Adler’s column at www.insidetoronto.com

| East York Mirror | Thursday, March 23, 2017

Payday lenders may face tougher rules

East York Mirror | Thursday, March 23, 2017 |

4

EDITORIAL | OPINION

• OUR VIEW •

ABOUT US

America’s tourism loss could be our gain It comes as no surprise that Donald Trump’s travel ban - now stalled by the American judiciary, again - has resulted in a chill on prospective travel from the seven nations named in the ban. After all, Trump himself referred to it as a "Muslim ban" during his election campaign.

But the chill isn’t limited to those countries. An Australian travel magazine - Traveller - recently carried the headline "Think twice about visiting America if you don’t want the Mem Fox treatment," referring to an author who has sworn she will never return to the United States after being detained and questioned on her way to a literary conference.

A British survey taken in February found about 30 per cent of respondents were less likely to visit the country now that Trump is in power. And Britons make up the third largest number of foreign visitors to the U.S., after Canadians and Mexicans. British travel bookings to the U.S. are down year over year, although travel experts point out that is also related to a strong American dollar.

The official marketing organization of New York, NYC & Company, says it expects 300,000 fewer international visitors in 2017, due to "travel ban related rhetoric." Tourism Economics, a U.S. firm that crunches numbers for airline and travel booking websites, projects that by the end of next year America will have lost 6.3 million visits, which translates into US$10.8 billion in spending.

And Canada? Toronto’s Comfort Tours typically takes between 200 and 300 tourists to New York during March break. This year, 11 people signed up, the company owner said. Halifax travel consultant Bob Sime said in a media interview: ... what I hear from the hoteliers and car rental companies, and so forth, is that in traditional snowbird destinations, the winter destinations for Canada, you’ve got about a 13 to a 15 per cent drop in figures to date."

Canada’s Girl Guides has announced it won’t travel to the U.S. Other organizations are expected to follow suit.

Again, it’s not all Trump. The American dollar is a factor too, which is why more and more Canadians are finding other warm locales where their dollars go further. One country benefitting, ironically, is Mexico, so frequently a Trump target.

That’s the thing. America’s tourism loss can be a gain for competing destinations. Trump’s unwelcoming America could be a welcome boost for Canadian tourism.

The East York Mirror, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 100 community publications across Ontario.

The East York Mirror is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web:www.mediacouncil.ca

newsroom@insidetoronto.com facebook.com/InsideToronto @InsideTOnews

Marching behind the Scarborough subway Well, that’s that. Scarborough’s marching behind its subway.

Next week, Mayor John Tory expects "war" - again as the subway, that express tunnel to one of the grandest shopping malls in Eastern Greater Toronto, returns to Toronto Council.

There, it faces people who, on a Monday, would say it isn’t Monday, the mayor told people at a Scarborough meeting this month.

Presumably, these people would call $3.35 billion too much for one subway stop. But the mayor says he can stop such quibbles, once and for all, if Scarborough helps.

Which Scarborough will, because the subway has enlisted nearly every-

MIKE ADLER Edges of Toronto one in Scarborough who couldn’t say no to it.

The University of Toronto Scarborough, planning a massive expansion of its campus around the Eglinton East light-railtransit line, stands with the mayor.

So does Centennial College, which had an LRT station promised to its largest campus until 2013, when that got dropped for the

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subway. Now, it’s behind the mayor’s "bold vision."

Of course, the mayor’s vision is more than the subway. There’s SmartTrack, and also that 17-stop Eglinton East LRT line.

The subway ate the LRT’s budget, sure, but the mayor says we’ll find a way, somehow, to build both.

In Scarborough, he told his troops the LRT will not only go to UTSC but, "we hope, beyond" to Malvern Town Centre. Scarborough councillors Glenn De Baeremaeker and Neethan Shan say the same.

The city already needs federal funds for a relief line subway, and a waterfront LRT, but who says we must choose?

The first reason for the Scarborough Subway is to shave minutes off trips

downtown. The second is pride.

Scarborough’s been stiffed, denied prosperity only the subway can give.

Not having that tunnel to the mall, the mayor says, "keeps us from feeling like a family."

The cost is huge, but who cares? It may be a boondoggle, but what isn’t?

Aren’t they going to build that rail deck park downtown? Somewhere, there’s money.

Politicians make promises. Those promises aren’t lies, exactly. Over time, they fade, and you forget who made them.

For now, all of Scarborough’s eggs are in one basket.

Reach Mike Adler at madler@insidetoronto.com

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COMMUNITY

5

customed to the culture in their new home.

"We plan at least two community events a month, and the Royal Canadian Curling Club is one of the oldest curling clubs in all of Canada," she said. "We thought curling would be a fantastic community event to introduce people to an iconic part of Canadian culture."

The Together Project (togetherproject.ca) brings volunteers together to help link newcomers with one another, Canadians and organizations, matching refugees with welcome groups of five or more people.

"We’re always looking for volunteers who may want to form a welcome group," Hill said. "Government-sponsored refugees don’t tend to have the same support system as privately-sponsored ones, so we speak to the newcomer families and the welcome groups to find a

JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Getting accustomed to the Canadian way of life can be a challenge for newcomers at the best of times. Cultural and language barriers, and being in a new country with few friends or supports, can pose plenty of difficulties, particularly for those who came to Canada to flee violence in their home countries.

Thanks to a partnership between the Together Project, Costi Immigrant Services and the Royal Canadian Curling Club, however, some 40 immigrants and refugees got a taste of Canadian life with a fun bonspiel on Wednesday, March 15.

Anna Hill, director of the Together Project, noted the event was designed to help government-sponsored refugees and new Canadians at a social event where they could meet others and get ac-

KINGSCROSS Exclusives

The event was also a boon to the Royal Canadian Curling Club, which is looking to reach out and bring on new curling converts. The club got involved with the Together Project when it applied to be part of Doors Open and their connection there offered to link the two organizations together.

"It’s a good way to bring (the newcomers) together with larger groups of Canadians and non-Canadians," said Margaret Bryce of the curling club.

"And it’s good for us, too.

We try to get them interested once and then hopefully we can get them to come back again and again."

Mirna El Sabbagh of Costi Immigrant Services said the curling event was a welcome respite for refugees living in housing provided by her agency.

"It’s added value to what we can provide, giving them this experience," she said.

Justin Greaves/Metroland

Arun Daniel, 11, releases a rock during a curling session for Syrian refugees at the Royal Canadian Curling Club through The Together Project last week. good match."

Despite a few slips and spills on the ice, the newcomers at Wednesday’s event took to curling well.

The kids, in particular, loved hurling stones down the ice.

"It’s so nice and it’s so fun," said 11-year-old

Arun Daniel, who came to Canada from Sri Lanka two weeks ago. "Everyone is so kind, so it’s easy to be friends with them."

Syrian refugee Karam Jamalo enjoyed getting a chance to try his hand at a popular winter sport.

"It’s fun to learn how to

play - right now I don’t know much about it except you have to play in a group," he said.

Jamalo added that events such as the curling outing were "a good opportunity to find connections and have some fun trying new things."

| East York Mirror | Thursday, March 23, 2017

Venerable curling club hosts newest refugees

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EVENTS

EVENTS

l Friday, March 24 High-Performance Thinking for Business and Career Success WHEN: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. WHERE: S. Walter Stewart Library, 170 Memorial Park Ave., Toronto CONTACT: tara stadius, tstadius@torontopubliclibrary.ca COST: Motivation and inspiration to propel you to your business and career goals. Drop in. Two-part series runs March 10 and 24.

Brain Games for Adults & Seniors WHEN: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. WHERE: S. Walter Stewart Library, 170 Memorial Park Drive, Toronto CONTACT: Tara Stadius, tstadius@torontopubliclibrary.ca COST: Visit three different webpages and play brain games online for free.

Register in person or by calling 416-396-3975. l Saturday, March 25 Creation Care 2017 environmental fair WHEN: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. WHERE: St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church, 1399 Bayview Ave, Toronto CONTACT: St Cuthbert’s Church Office, 416-485-0329, stcuthberts@bellnet.ca, www.stcuthbertsleaside.com COST: All events are free.March 25 and 26.

l GET

CONNECTED

Visit insidetoronto.com/events to submit your own community events for online publishing.

Earth Hour Celebration WHEN: 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. WHERE: St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church, 1399 Bayview Ave, Toronto CONTACT: St Cuthbert’s Church Office, 4164850329, stcuthberts@bellnet.ca COST: Earth Hour celebration in the church - 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Part of Creation Care 2017 weekend - all welcome. l Sunday, March 26 Kitchen Basics WHEN: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. WHERE: St. Luke`s Church, 904 Coxwell Avenue, Toronto CONTACT: Victoria, 416-424-3074 COST: Kitchen basics: Sunday Supper with Friends. There is no cost and all materials and ingredients are provided. l Monday, March 27 Councillor Janet Davis’ City of Toronto Seniors Strategy Public Consultation WHEN: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. WHERE: Stan Wadlow Clubhouse, 373 Cedarvale Ave, Toronto CONTACT: 416-392-4035, Councillor_Davis@toronto.ca

COST: The City of Toronto is developing the next version of the Toronto Seniors Strategy. The City is looking for input from seniors, care givers and agencies serving seniors. l Tuesday, March 28 Adult Afternoon Movie: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel WHEN: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

WHERE: Riverdale Branch, 370 Broadview Ave., Toronto CONTACT: Riverdale Branch, 416-393-7720

l Wednesday, March 29 Living at Risk WHEN: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

WHERE: Providence Healthcare, 3276 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto CONTACT: Marina Gaziani, 416285-3666, mgaziani@providence.on.ca COST: An open discussion around living with risks. This event will take place in the Scotiabank Learning Centre at Providence Healthcare.

Parking Fees will apply.

5 things to do this weekend l Friday, March 24 Winter Stations 2017 WHEN: 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. WHERE: The Beaches, - From Woodbine to Victoria Park along the Waterfront, Toronto CONTACT: info@winterstations.com COST: Winter Stations 2017 closes March 27, temporary public art installations in The Beaches.

Toronto Storytelling Festival WHEN: 12 p.m. - 11 p.m. WHERE: Various venues, Toronto CONTACT: torontostorytellingfestival.ca/2017/ COST: Some ticketed events The Toronto Storytelling Festival has grown into one of the world’s biggest celebrations of the arts of voice and story. Until April 2.

Toronto Winter Brewfest WHEN: 6 p.m. - 1 a.m. WHERE: Heritage Court, Enercare Centre, 100 Princes’ Blvd #1, Toronto CONTACT: info@brewfest.ca COST: $30 plus tax Sample more than 150 beers crafted from brewers from across Ontario and Quebec, nibble on delicious gourmet food from Toronto’s best food trucks. March

,

Sandra Whiting is again in the lineup for this year’s Toronto Storytelling Festival.

24, 25.

of Centennial Park. Meet at arena.

l Saturday, March 25 Our Place Initiative - Centennial Park Earth Hour Walk WHEN: 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. WHERE: Centennial Park Arena, 256 Centennial Park Rd., Toronto CONTACT: info@ourplaceinitiative.com COST: Walk leaders: Matthew Siwiec and Johnathan Robertson. Dress for the weather and bring a source of light. Organized by OPI - Friends

l Sunday, March 26 The Old Book and Paper Show WHEN: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. WHERE: Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street, Toronto CONTACT: gadsden@antiqueshowscanada.com COST: $10, 12/under free Collectors and dealers in old paper, ephemera and vintage books get together for the biggest one-day vintage print sale of the year.

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Visit: pulseresearch.com/toronto/ No purchase necessary. Skill testing question required. One (1) entry per person. The Contest is open to residents of Ontario who have attained the age of 18 as at the start of the Contest Period and have not previously completed the Metroland Readers Survey. Draw will be held at 1:00 pm PST on April 19, 2017. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Six (6) prizes are available to be won: one (1) grand prize consisting of a cheque for $5,000 CDN (ARV $5,000 CDN), two (2) second prizes each consisting of a cheque for $1,000 CDN (ARV $1,000 CDN each) and three (3) third prizes each consisting of a cheque in the amount of $500 CDN (ARV $500 CDN each). Contest Period opens at 9:00 am ET February 6, 2017 and ends at 11:59 pm ET on April 17, 2017. For information on how to enter and complete contest rules visit pulseresearch.com/toronto/.

THIS FRI MARCH 24 DOORS OPEN 8AM! SALES EVENT!

At least squirrels have an excuse Have you ever driven a vehicle on Toronto’s streets only to have a squirrel dart out in front of you?

It’s a heart stopping moment where your instincts click in and your foot heads for the brake pedal at lightning speed.

The little fur-brained creature either wakes up to its impending doom and darts back to safety, or it continues as if it is oblivious to the fate that is bearing down upon it.

Unfortunately, it often ends badly for the squirrel.

For some strange reason, it seems that a significant number of people have, as well, lost all sense of danger about vehicular traffic.

It seems that every time that I head out in my automobile I must be on the lookout for such people.

These people dart across the road in random locations along the road and often without even looking.

JOE COOPER Watchdog What’s amazing about this behaviour is that the faster cars are moving and the more congestion there is, the number of these people seems to increase.

To make matters even more complicated, I have seen far too many people abandoning sidewalks and walking on the roadways of busy streets.

Even when crosswalks are provided, many people seem to think that these crossings possess magical powers.

You see pedestrians go up to a crosswalk, push the button to make the lights

flash, then immediately step into traffic.

It seems that these people somehow expect traffic, no matter how busy or dense it is, to instantly stop for them.

Likewise, the city’s pedestrians are some of the worst scofflaws who ignore the "do not walk" signal and are still in the intersection when the light is red.

The most terrifying group of people for motorists are those who do these things at night and most often while wearing dark clothing.

Again, I can understand the squirrel’s lack of understanding of the danger of our streets, but why have people come to be so reckless with their lives?

Joe Cooper is a longtime East York resident and community activist. His column appears every Thursday. Contact him at newsroom@insidetoronto.com

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East York Mirror | Thursday, March 23, 2017 |

10

Enter Our Canada 150 Essay Contest This year we, at Metroland Media Toronto, are marking two important dates.

Prize packages

As you know, July 1 is Canada’s 150th birthday.

And today, March 23, is the 265th anniversary of the printing of Canada’s first newspaper, the Halifax Gazette.

We want to celebrate these milestones by doing what we do best—telling your stories.

And we need your help.

Submit your essay of 250 to 350 words along with a high quality photograph, on one of the following themes: 1. Why Canada?

Are you a recent immigrant? First- or secondgeneration Canadian? Share your unique story of why your family chose to make Canada home.

2. My favourite Canadian destination Whether it’s down the road or across the country, we want to know the one place in Canada that has your heart, and why.

Grand prize: night’s stay at Hidden Valley Resort in Muskoka ($220 value) 1st place, each category: Canada 150 flag, Read the North sweatshirt, $50 Indigo e-gift card, book by a Canadian author, one visit family pass (for up to two adults and three children under 18) to McMichael Canadian Art Collection ($216 value).

2nd place, each category: Canada 150 flag, Read the North t-shirt, book by a Canadian author, one visit family pass (for up to two adults and three children under 18) to McMichael Canadian Art Collection ($136 value).

3rd place, each category: Canada 150 flag, Read the North canvas tote, book by a Canadian author and one visit family pass (for up to two adults and three children under 18) to McMichael Canadian Art Collection ($116 value).

Thank you

3. Hometown proud Tell us what makes you proud to be a Canadian.

How to enter Email your entries to newsroom@insidetoronto. com. Entries will be featured as part of our new Sunday Reads series and be eligible to win a Canada-themed prize package.

Contest rules, visit insidetoronto.com/contests.

Thank you to our sponsors, Hidden Valley Resort in Muskoka, The Flag Store in Barrie, McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg — an extraordinary place to visit and explore Canadian culture and identity, and the connections between art and nature — and Indigo — which, as “Canada’s bookstore”, is currently celebrating and supporting Canadian writers through its #ReadtheNorth program.

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COMMUNITY

11

Monday meeting

JOANNA LAVOIE jlavoie@insidetoronto.com A private members’ bill introduced earlier this week in the House of Commons is aiming to ensure Ontarians aren’t forced from their homes because of significant rent hikes.

The Rent Protection for All Tenants Act, which Toronto-Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns tabled Monday, calls for rent-hike protection for all renters by immediately closing a loophole that allows landlords of dwellings built after 1991 to arbitrarily raise the rent.

"We hear from young renters who are worried that this might be the month they’re hit with a rent hike they can’t afford.

We hear from families that say the increases are chasing them from their homes the place they’re raising their kids," Tabuns said in a March 16 release.

"That’s not fair, and it doesn’t have to be this way.

It’s time to do something about it. It’s time to extend protection against unreasonable increases to everyone.

"Both the Federation of Metro Tenants (FMT) and the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) are supportive of the new law, which would see the Residential Tenancies Act amended to include a rent cap for all renters according to the annual rent increase guidelines, which are typically 1.5 per cent annually.

"In Ontario, rents are regulated to help tenants keep a roof over their heads," Kenneth Hale, ACTO’s director of advocacy and legal services, said in the release.

"We cannot continue to deny this protection to over

.COM

NDP MPP Peter Tabuns has introduced a private members’ bill aimed at ensuring Ontarians aren’t forced from their homes because of significant rent hikes.

On Monday, March 27, TorontoDanforth MPP Peter Tabuns will be discussing his bill to make rental housing more affordable by ending two-tiered rent protection during a public tenant meeting in East York.

The gathering will take place at Bethany Baptist church, 1041 Pape Ave. at Cosburn Avenue, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Ward 29 Coun. Mary Fragedakis, along with a representative from the federation of Metro Tenants Association, Bhavin Bilimoria of the Flemingdon Community Legal Services, and John Anderson of Acorn Toronto, will also be speaking during the meeting.

All are welcome.

Call Tabuns’ constituency office at 416-461-0223 or email tabunsco@ndp.on.ca for more information.

150,000 tenant households and we support the NDP’s demand to make the law apply to them.

"Diane Dyson, a FMT board member, said many Ontario households are at a "tipping point."

"We’re hearing about rent increases of hundreds of dollars or even $1,000 a month. We’re hearing more and more of working people being forced to couch surf.

We’re seeing people being forced to give up their home," she said.Tabuns’ bill is set to receive a second reading. A date for that to happen has yet to be set.

In a statement, Ontario housing Minister Chris Ballard said it is "unacceptable" that some tenants are seeing their rent increase significantly.

"My staff are already developing a plan to address unfair rises in rental costs by delivering substantive rent-control reform in Ontario as part of an ongoing review of the Residential Tenancies Act," stated Bal-

lard, who added the province is also looking to freeze municipal property taxes for apartment buildings.

During an interview with Metroland Media Toronto, Tabuns said the Rent Protection for All Tenants Act is the first of a series of private members’ bills and other measures aimed at protecting the rights of renters in Ontario he intends to take.

"I call it a good first step, but there are others that have to be taken," he said.

"It’s really the time for tenants to mobilize to protect themselves."Tabuns, who has held a number of meetings in recent months with tenants in his east Toronto riding, said another concern is landlords who find ways to "outprice" tenants and essentially force them to move out so they can raise the rent in older rental buildings.

"It’s a big issue. People are feeling pushed out," he said.

Toronto Star

insidetoronto.com/canada150

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| East York Mirror | Thursday, March 23, 2017

Tabuns pushes for increased rent protection

East York Mirror | Thursday, March 23, 2017 |

12 FAMILY

School working on long-term plan to stay open ’If we don’t get 12 children enrolled

by April 15 we will be closing.’

l Continued from page 1

year and require full-day child care.

"Lots of people can still benefit from our nursery school," she said, noting the situation really came to light late last year when they failed to meet their fundraising target.

Corbin also said full-day kindergarten could be another factor.

In recent months, parents at the east-end nursery school have come together to develop a plan of action to ensure the local nursery school doesn’t end up in such dire straits ever again. They’ve set up a recruitment team and are working to be more active in the community and on social media. The team is also looking to form new partnerships, and work with local politicians to get the word out about the facility and its offerings.

"We need to stay open so we can implement all of the

School parent Clifton Corbin

Joanna Lavoie/Metroland

The Dentonia Park Co-operative Nursery School must have at least 12 students registered for the 2017-2018 school year by April 15 strategies we’ve started talking about," Corbin said.

Demoulin said the goal

is to let people know what the Dentonia Park Co-operative Nursery School is all about and what a great

families," she said.

Dentonia Park Co-operative Nursery School, which is open Monday to Friday from 8:45 to 11:45 a.m., currently offers fulland part-time spaces for up to 16 students.

The not-for-profit school, which requires some parent participation, has competitive fees to cover its expenses. It was licensed as a charitable organization in 1983.

The local nursery school, which opened its doors in the community in 1974, has served generations of local children and families.

"I don’t know what we would do without it. It’s been life-changing for us," said Anne Ross, mother of four-year-old pupil, Max. "It’s such an incredible community here and I’ve met so many wonderful people. Dentonia Park Nursery School has enriched our lives and our experience in the community."

Ross said the local nursery school is a really "special place" that must be saved.

"It would be incredibly sad to see this school close knowing just how it impacts the lives of young

place it is for their children.

"A lot of times we hear we’re a hidden gem," she smiled.

Saturday, April 1 The Dentonia Park Co-operative Nursery School will be holding an open house from 10 a.m. to noon. All are invited to come with kids in tow to check out the space and what is offered there. Email dentonianurseryschool@gmail.com or call 416691-1202 for more information or to arrange a tour.

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COMMUNITY

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JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com Volunteers are the lifeblood of most any charitable organization, and that’s even more true for most smaller groups, which rely almost exclusively on unpaid staff.

Volunteer Toronto is looking to shine a light on some of these lesser-known grassroots agencies, bringing attention to the good work they do and linking them up with other organizations and potential people power through Grassroots Week.

Running from March 20 to 26, the week is a culmination of a two-year project undertaken by Volunteer Toronto with support from the provincial government.

"For the past two years, we’ve been working on our Grassroots Growth project, which has been provincewide, but mostly fo-

cused in Toronto," said Grassroots Growth project co-ordinator Claire McWatt. "We’ve been holding workshops and smaller events to reach out, but the biggest problem has been finding a lot of the groups."

As volunteer-run organizations - Volunteer Toronto considers a grassroots group to be one with a budget of $75,000 or less with no full-time paid staff - many of these groups have little or no online presence.

"What we found over these two years is that the word ’grassroots’ is very meaningful, but people who are involved with these groups don’t necessarily see their work as volunteering," McWatt noted.

Despite the challenges in tracking down these groups, Volunteer Toronto has managed to touch base with hundreds of them over the past two years and worked to train them, connect them with others and

provide additional supports.

"They have no staff, no budget, they have a major impact, but there’s been no support for them," McWatt said. "We’ve been able to hold 125 workshops for 300 grassroots groups to help them get some of the training and support they need."

Grassroots Week features a number of events, ending off with a bang on Sunday, March 26 with a Raise the Roots Brunch and a Grassroots Volunteer Fair, both at the Toronto Reference Library. Both events are open to the public and to grassroots groups alike, with the public encouraged to visit and see where they can put their skills to use helping others.

It will also give the groups a chance to learn from one another one last time before the Grassroots Growth project ends.

"What we’ve found is

that there are a lot of things these groups have in common," McWatt said. "A seniors’ bocce group might not realize they have a lot in common with a youth group from Rexdale, but they can really learn from each other."

There is still some limited seating available for the brunch, which takes place in the Toronto Reference Library’s Beeton Auditorium from 11a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Volunteer Fair will take place in the Bram and Bluma Appel Salon at the library from 1 to 4 p.m.

For more information or to register for the brunch, visit www.grassrootsweek.ca For more information on the Grassroots Growth project, including information and webinars on how to help a grass-roots organization find new success, visit www.grassrootsgrowth.ca

| East York Mirror | Thursday, March 23, 2017

Grassroots Week culiminates in Sunday volunteer fair

Submitted photo

Volunteer Toronto’s Grassroots Growth week will aim to boost the success and exposure of small volunteer-run organizations.

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