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LAMP funding to increase primary care access LAMP will receive $244,700 in provincial funding to help recruit and retain more non-physician primary health care professionals, Etobicoke-Lakeshore MPP Peter Milczyn announced. The south Etobicoke based community health centre is one of 445 primary care organizations across the province - including Ontario’s 184 family health teams, 75 community health centres, 25 nurse practitioner-led clinics and 10 Aboriginal Health Access Centres - to receive the funding, totalling $85 million over the next three years. That influx will allow those organizations to better attract and retain non-physician health care professionals - including nurse practitioners, social workers and registered dieticians to serve more Ontario families, especially in high-needs and remote communities. ● See DELIVERING, page 4
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MODERN-DAY GIVING Charities are reaching out to younger generations, getting high-tech and creative about their fundraising campaigns during the holidays. See the feature on page 3.
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ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN | APT | Thursday, December 8, 2016 |
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Torontonians generous with giving over holiday season
Loyal donors help keep not-for-profits in the green
Giving back during the holiday season doesn’t have to involve opening your wallet.
FANNIE SUNSHINE fsunshine@insidetoronto.com With the holidays fast approaching, malls are becoming more crowded, store front windows are decorated with Christmas trees and all the trimmings, and charities have filled mailboxes and airwaves with calls for donations. And with a plethora of charities and not-for-profits vying for money from generous donors, some have had to change their approach and get more Internet savvy in hopes of collecting coin. When it’s time for North York Seniors Centre (NYSC) to target donors for its fundraisers, Jasmine Colibaba knows exactly where to find them - online. “We are focusing on the millennials,” said the centre’s development coordinator. “As a millennial myself, it’s so much easier to just give online. It’s the way the future is going. It’s the new focus. We have to think about how we can appeal to a larger audience. Twitter, LinkedIn, it’s all very important in getting our message out to a broader audience.” And luckily for NYSC, a not-for-profit organization providing programs and services for adults aged 55 and older, they don’t have to tug too hard on heart strings to get people to dig into their pockets. “Everyone has a grandma, grandpa,” Colibaba said. “They are vibrant, living in the community. But they are going to need help.” She noted one third of all annual donations to NYSC are collected in December, adding the organization has a loyal donor
Here are some other ways you and your family can help:
Photo on front and above - Dan Pearce/Metroland
Volunteers help build a family a home on Pinery Trail Tuesday, Nov. 22 as part of GTA Crew Build. base. cent planned to make a people choosing to spend According to a 2014 surdonation in someone’s hontheir money on gifts. vey conducted on behalf our in place of a traditional Yet on the flip side, those of national charitable orgagift; 42 percent said were same people also feel more nization Imagine Canada, donating to experience the inspired to give in the name which examined holiday joy of giving and celebrate of someone else. season charitable giving the spirit of the holidays; “This time of year peoand attitudes about chariand 61 per cent of those not ple are in a more charitable table donations, 62 per cent making a charitable donamood, and charities have to of Canadians intended tion cited lack of funds as look to capitalize on that,” to donate to charity over the reason. he said. “Our approach is the holidays. Other findSam Fiorella, a profesnot to wait until December ings included 33 per cent sor at Seneca College’s to do something or launch intended to volunteer their school of marketing and a campaign. We build time, rather than money, managing director of notengagement throughout to a charitable cause; 33 for-profit corporation the year.” per cent wanted to set an Lucas Fiorella Friendship Families tend to make example for their children Bench, said holiday fundtraditions of giving back, or others about the imporraising is a constant chaland one popular way is tance of giving back; 26 per lenge for charities, with for kids to donate to a toy
~ Donate some of your time to a local charity like Habitat for Humanity. Get your family or co-workers involved building a home for a family in need. ~ Attach a handwritten note to a homemade treat and leave it in your mailbox for the mail delivery person. Or, if you can, hand deliver it. ~ Spend time talking with your elderly neighbour, or help them decorate their tree or shovel their driveway. If you know they are spending the holidays alone, and you have room at your dinner table, invite them over for a meal. ~ Offer to babysit for new parents, and if you have kids, bring them along to help with whatever else mom or dad needs, perhaps decorating or wrapping presents. ~ Clean out your closet and bookshelves and donate everything to a homeless shelter. ~ Be the one to reach out and make amends with someone you’ve had a falling out with.
Habitat for Humanity’s
drive, he said. “Because more people have more today than 10 years ago, they are willing to give, but not cash,” Fiorella said. “They want to make it educational for their kids. Re-gifting a toy for a toy drive definitely hurts ability to raise cash.” But not all charities feel the pinch of a zipped up wallet come Christmas. Andrew Burditt, spokesperson for The Salvation Army Ontario Central East Division, said its Christmas Kettle Campaign, which has been in existence in Canada for more than a
century, is still an effective way to raise funds over the holidays. “We set a $3-million goal in Toronto, and we’ve been fortunate to meet it the last few years,” he said. “The money stays in the community. So if you donate to a kettle at Yonge and Eglinton, the money stays in that community.” Burditt is aware not everyone can give cash donations, so he suggests donating time - like manning a kettle. “We find people do give with an open heart.”
| ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN | APT | Thursday, December 8, 2016
HOLIDAY SPECIAL
ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN | APT | Thursday, December 8, 2016 |
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COMMUNITY
Delivering ‘comprehensive care’ focus of funding, says MPP
UR sive care” to local comO Y T E L “This importantO munities. N’ T Dan investment addresses imbalam very pleased that SE this“I funding A E ance in compensation will ensure L E L C I H among health providers that the Health PromoR E U V ’ T LET YO OWtion .team at LAMP N in primary care teams,” can D N O MinisterIN YOU D Dr. Eric Hoskins, continue to provide such HCALE LEASE proven programs as Street of Health and C Long-Term
● From page 1
workers and improving timely access to primary care for Ontarians no matter where they live.” The provincial government, Milczyn added, is committed to strengthening primary care teams such as the one at LAMP so that they can continue to deliver “Comprehen-
Level; VEHI . a drop-in centre N W O that works with youth D U O to make healthy lifestyle CHAIN Y
Care, said in a statement. “Our government is committed to supporting these
T. U O T S U B
choices, through life skill development workshops, physical recreational activities, volunteer and leadership opportunities, and a positive social support network,” he said in a statement. For his part, LAMP’s Executive Director Russ Ford said the funding will
“Go a long way to creating a fairer compensation system for all health care workers,” and will “Ensure the stability of the health care sector.” Increasing access to primary care is part of the provincial government’s plan to “Build a better Ontario” through
its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which provides patients with faster access to the right care; better home and community care; the information they need to live healthy; and a health care system that is sustainable for generations to come.
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One of the programs at LAMP that will benefit from the $244,700 in primary care funding is StreetLevel, a drop-in centre that works with youth to make healthy lifestyle choices. Here, members of the StreetLevel team teach local youth about the value of good nutrition and healthy snacking by making smoothies.
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The Etobicoke Guardian, 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.
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ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN | APT | Thursday, December 8, 2016 |
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Men forcibly confined at school during the Great Depression DEnIsE HARRIs denise.harris@sympatico.ca
Although we experienced a very hot summer in 2016, it was definitely not as hot as the summer of 1936 when a record-breaking heat wave, coupled with the woes of the Great Depression, led to a double forcible-confinement at an Alderwood school. All across Southern Ontario, the week of July 8 to 15, 1936, set new records for heat. Swimming pools were packed and thousands of residents slept outdoors in parks. The only air-conditioned buildings were cinemas, many of which stayed open all night. Two hundred and twentyfive Toronto residents died, mostly young children and the elderly. At the same time, 2,168 Etobicoke men were unemployed and receiving relief benefits in cash or in vouchers that could be used to buy food and other necessities. In exchange, the men were expected to work on road maintenance or other types of unskilled public work. Relief workers felt the pay was inadequate and were demanding more provincial funding for the program. Rotating strikes and public protests were increasing. However, as Mimico’s mayor, Amos Waites, announced, “No work, no relief !” and all those on strike had their relief benefits cut.
Sir Adam Beck School was being used on weekends as an office to pay relief workers. On the morning of July 8, 1936, the school was packed with 500 relief workers, strikers and their supporters. Relief Officer Charles Grubbe arrived at 1:30 p.m. and paid in cash those who had worked over the previous two weeks. When those who had been on strike demanded compensation as well, Grubbe informed them he had nothing to give them. After much discussion, the group let Grubbe phone Etobicoke Reeve William A. Armstrong, who arrived at the school at 4:30 p.m. When Armstrong tried to leave the building at 5 p.m., he was forcibly prevented from doing so. Both Grubbe and Armstrong were then confined to the stifling and dripping basement boiler room for more than 18 hours. After several unsuccessful bargaining attempts, at 11:30 a.m. on July 9th the Reeve finally agreed to compensate the strikers who had families for their lost pay. Only then were Armstrong and Grubbe allowed to leave. On July 10th a special police squad of officers sworn in from surrounding municipalities was sent to arrest those responsible for confining Grubbe and Armstrong. Thirty-seven arrests were made, either for unlawful forcing or
9 | ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN | APT | Thursday, December 8, 2016
HERITAGE
Montgomery’s Inn/PHOTO
After Sir Adam Beck School opened in Alderwood in 1921 on the north side of Horner Avenue, west of Brown’s Line, it became a focal point for community events and meetings. unlawful assembly. However, after delays in bringing them to trial, and knowing there was great public sympathy for the strikers, Premier Mitchell Hepburn was finally persuaded to drop all charges. After this incident, Alderwood was nicknamed “Pogeyville”. Sir Adam Beck School was demolished in 1999 and replaced by a brand new school building. The triple-arched entrance from the old school was erect-
ed adjacent to the new school, and it now has an historical plaque telling this surprising story of a kidnapping at an Alderwood school. Denise Harris is the Heritage Officer of the Etobicoke Historical Society. Her column appears every second Thursday. Reach her through the Etobicoke Historical Society website www.etobicokehistorical.com
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ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN | APT | Thursday, December 8, 2016 |
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HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Celebrating the holidays in a ‘uniquely Canadian way’ In Toronto, people make room for their neighbour’s cultural celebrations DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com
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There’s something different about the window display at the Hudson’s Bay Company flagship store at Yonge and Queen Streets this holiday season. Gone are the animated Christmas carollers, the elves and the reindeer trappings of Christmas. In their place? The Aurora Borealis; owls and geese and squirrels and bears, animal denizens of a wintery “enchanted forest” that speaks more to the Canadian winter than the Christian holiday that’s among those celebrated in December. A year ago and a border south of the Bay, a decision to step back from Christmas in favour of wintery magic might have gotten a lot of flak from Christians and other traditionalists who see a war against the holiday in the colour of Starbucks coffee cups and the use of the greeting “happy holidays”
rather than Merry Christmas. This year? With Stephen Bannon, the head of the right-wing, hate-spinning website Breitbart. com at the right hand of president-elect Donald Trump, whatever bloom there was on the rose of Christian-centric, exclusive celebration this season has surely faded. That goes doubly so in Toronto - one of the most multicultural and multi-religious cities in the world - where the deChristmasing of the Bay raised barely an eyebrow. “This isn’t a bad year for us to be talking about the uniquely Canadian way of celebrating Christmas,” says Toronto city councillor Joe Mihevc, who came to politics by way of divinity studies. Mihevc represents a typically diverse ward (Ward 21 - St. Paul’s) in a diverse city, and he holds his communities up as a model of accommodation. While the law of the land turns Christmas - that being the explicit celebration of the birth of Christ - into a paid, nearly universal holiday, Mihevc says that the many faiths practiced in the communities he represents find ways to celebrate. “At the Wychwood Barns, there’s a Christmas thing, a Hanukkah thing, a Kwanzaa thing,” he says.
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David Nickle/Metroland
The Hudson’s Bay Company’s window displays at Yonge and Queen streets are featuring a winter theme this year – a break in tradition from their usual Christmas theme. “It’s let’s celebrate and have fun with it. It’s not a way of defining your religious team as differentiated from other religious teams.” In Scarborough, United Church Minister Gretta Vosper takes that ethos a step further. Vosper, an avowed atheist, is battling a move by the church to defrock her for her religious views. The matter is currently decided against her, subject to an appeal. The West Hill United Church where she officiates until that is heard offers a “longest night” service that coincides with the equinox - the shortest day of the year, Dec. 21. The congregation there focuses on the communal elements of the season -
extinguishing candles to represent regrets, and lighting candles to illuminate hope. “It’s a service that doesn’t use scriptural text, but touches the primal elements of all traditions,” she says. “What we do is, the lowest common denominator of what people of good will can agree on. That’s what we build on.” Vosper’s God-absent view may be an outlier in a season that gathers many around spiritual symbols, but even the devout can see the value in inclusivity. Rev. Rachel Kessler left her parish in midtown Toronto last year to become chaplain at Kenyon College in Ohio. The Episcopal college’s stu-
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dent body is diverse, with students practicing Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and pagan religions, as well as many who don’t worship at all. “The way we have been striving to approach spiritual life here is, how do we affirm the religious identity of the people in our community and support them fully, in our own identity and making space for one another’s identity?” she asks. Making that space, Kessler acknowledges, is work. “Forming a true interfaith relationship should cost me something,” she says. “If that cost is I say ‘happy holidays’ to Muslim or Jewish students,
or a pagan student who doesn’t want to celebrate Christmas - well, that’s a pretty low cost for me.” Kessler would, in fact, be willing to pay more. “I want to scrap Christmas as a paid holiday entirely,” she said. “I think we should all celebrate as a secular society as a winter holiday. But in my religious community, I would like to celebrate my festival. The whole festival of the light of God, coming into the world.” As for the Bay? When asked for comment on the new wintry display, Bay spokesperson Michelle Veilleux was unable to find anyone to comment. Here in Toronto, the display speaks for itself.
● Thursday, December 8
Moms and Tots Program WHEN: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. WHERE: St. Philip’s Lutheran Church, 61 West Deane Park Dr. CONTACT: Marisa, 647-523-5540, COST: Free The Moms and Tots program is free to all mothers/caregivers and tots every Thursday
● Friday, December 9
Kingsway Conservatory orchestras in concert WHEN: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. WHERE: Kingsway Lambton United Church, 85 The Kingsway CONTACT: 416234-0121 Ext.222, http://www. kingswayconservatory.ca/, COST: $10 Adults, $7 Students/Children Performances of festive repertoire by the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Orchestras of the Kingsway Conservatory of Music and the Kingsway Children’s Choirs. www. kingswayconservatory.ca Holiday Spectacular! WHEN: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. WHERE: Humber Valley United Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd CONTACT: Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra, 416-2395665, http://www.eporchestra. ca/, info@eporchestra.ca COST: Adults $30’ Seniors $25/$22 (prepaid); Students $15 Join the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra for a Holiday Spectacu-
● GET CONNECTED Visit insidetoronto.com/events to submit your own community events for online publishing. lar, a joyful concert to get you in the festive spirit!
● Saturday, December 10
St Philip’s Annual Christmas Bazaar WHEN: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: St Philip's Anglican Church Parish Hall, 60 Dixon Road CONTACT: Church Office, 416-2475181, COST: Free Vendors, bake table, raffle and snack bar. Wheelchair accessible. Winter Bird Count for Kids WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. WHERE: Centre for Urban Ecology, Humber Arboretum, Humber College, 205 Humber College Blvd. CONTACT: , 416-675-5009, http://humberarboretum.on.ca/ events.php, arboretum@humber.ca COST: Free Introduce your family to the wonders of winter bird watching with this free citizen science event for all ages and skill levels. Free, registration required. Etobicoke Centennial Choir concert: Sacred Traditions 2016 WHEN: 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. WHERE: Humber Valley United
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Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd CONTACT: Lauren Mayer, 416433-5495, www.etobicokecentennialchoir.ca, info@etobicokecentennialchoir.ca COST: $25. Call 416-769-9271 or order online. Etobicoke Centennial Choir’s 50th anniversary season begins with a joyful celebration of the holiday season. Doors open 6 p.m. for annual Christmas Marketplace.
● Sunday, December 11
A Good Old Fashioned CHRISTMAS WHEN: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. WHERE: Eatonville Library, 430 Burnhamthorpe Road, Etobicoke CONTACT: Ramsay Mery, 416 527 1477, ramsay.mery@f55f.com COST: $5 Come Celebrate A Good Old Fashioned Christmas with music, food and prizes. Book now.
● Monday, December 12
Etobicoke Camera Club - Christmas Social WHEN: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. WHERE: Humber Valley United Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd. CONTACT: John Stevenson, 416.233.8657, john@ stevensonteam.ca COST: Free
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| ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN | APT | Thursday, December 8, 2016
EVENTS
5 things to do this weekend ● Friday, December 9
Union Station Holiday Market WHEN: 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. WHERE: Union Station, 65 Front Street West CONTACT: unionstationholidaymarket.com/, holidaymarket@torontomarketco. com COST: Free December 5-16. This holiday market running Dec. 5-16 features local businesses, designers, artisans and gourmet food vendors. The Twelve Days of Christmas WHEN: 7 p.m. to WHERE: Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. CONTACT: tso.ca/concert/twelvedays-christmas COST: Free Sing along with your favourite carols and songs as part of The Twelve Days of Christmas – a live-action pageant, narrated by comedian Colin Mochrie. Dec. 9 and 11.
● Saturday, December 10
Wish Upon A Star at Casa Loma WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace CONTACT: 416-923-1171, COST: $17-$27 Until January, enjoy new shows created by famed illusionist entertainers, special appearances by PAW Patrol, visit Santa in the
Mertoland file photo
The city of Toronto’s Centennial Park Conservatory holds its annual Christmas event this Sunday with floral displays, carol singers, hot cider, horse and buggy rides, and a visit from Santa.
SpinMaster workshop, more. The Nutcracker Ballet WHEN: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. CONTACT: national.ballet.ca COST: $85-170 The National Ballet of Canada performs this famous ballet, choreographed by James Kudelka. A children’s story time takes place 45 minutes before each show in
the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. Dec. 10-31.
● Sunday, December 11
Christmas Flower Show WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: Centennial Park Conservatory, 151 Elmcrest Rd. CONTACT: 416394-8543 COST: Free Grand opening show. Visitors treated to horse and wagon rides, carolers, hot apple cider and a visit from Santa. Runs until January.
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WISH AND WIN CONTEST
ND GRAIZE PR 0 $50 0
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No purchase necessary. Contest open to residents of Canada who have attained the age of majority in the province or territory in which they reside. There are three (3) prizes available to be won: one (1) grand prize consisting of a cheque for five hundred dollars ($500.00) CDN, and two (2) secondary prizes consisting of a cheque for two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) CDN. Approximate retail value of the grand prize is five hundred dollars ($500.00) CDN and approximate retail value of each secondary prize is two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) CDN. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Limit of one (1) entry per person. Contest Period opens at 3:00 pm ET on November 16, 2016 and closes at 11:59 pm ET on December 20, 2016. Skill testing question required. For instructions to enter and complete contest rules, visit www.save.ca/wish-list.
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ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN | APT | Thursday, December 8, 2016 |
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