December 24

Serving RONCESVALLES, TRINITYBELLWOODS, and LIBERTY VILLAGE

thurs dec 24, 2015 www.parkdalevillager.com

inside See photos of local ballet school dancers in The Nutcracker / 3

TO in Transit: 2016 the final year of the Metropass / 6

速

from The Parkdale Villager

See what events are taking place in Parkdale / 12

shopping wagjag.com amazing deals on group discounts

shop.ca

shop and earn, every time!

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keep in touch @ParkdaleLiberty www.facebook.com/ ParkdaleVillager

more online

insidetoronto.com

Happy Holidays from our Home to Yours!

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 24, 2015 |

2

• aluminum trays, pie plates,

roasting pans, cookie tins • soft & stretchy plastics

(bags, overwrap) • plastic disposable cups, plates • foam food containers &

protective packaging

• meat, including bones

• black coloured plastics

• breads

• bubble wrap

• cakes, cookies

• foil gift wrap

• fruits, vegetables

• ribbons, bows

• paper napkins

• aluminum foil

• paper plates

• dishes, glasses • wooden fruit crates

• paper gift wrap, cards

(no foil wrap)

Curbside collection changes this Holiday Season There is no curbside recycling/organics/garbage collection on Christmas Day, December 25 and New Year’s Day, January 1. Check your calendar for Friday collection schedule changes.

toronto.ca/recycle

Space provided through a partnership between industry and Ontario municipalities to support waste diversion programs.

3

CAMH to ‘wind down’ services at gender identity clinic HILARY CATON hcaton@insidetoronto.com After members of the transgendered community criticized the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) use of conversion therapy, the Toronto mental health and addiction hospital announced plans to gradually cut back services offered at the Child Youth and Family Gender Identity Clinic.

The decision was made Tuesday, Dec. 15 following the release of a review of the clinic by two independent clinicians, which highlights concerns that the gender identity clinic’s services were out of touch with the current and evolving clinical and operational approaches applied to other CAMH services.

“We want to apologize for the fact that not all of

“

We want to apologize for the fact that not all of the practices in our childhood gender identity clinic are in step with the latest thinking.

– Dr. Kwame McKenzie, medical director of CAMH’s Child, Youth & Family program

the practices in our childhood gender identity clinic are in step with the latest thinking,” said Dr. Kwame McKenzie, medical director of CAMH’s Child, Youth & Family Program, in a press release.

The review began in February and since then no new patients have been accepted.

What sparked the review was an online petition that alleges Dr. Kenneth Zucker was conducting conversation therapy with transgendered youth at CAMH. The online petition claims Zucker

has been using this type of therapy for years.

Conversion or reparative therapy was banned in June for youth under 18 years of age after Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo tabled Bill 77, the Affirming Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Act. The controversial method, which has also been de-listed from OHIP coverage, aims to discourage transgender children from their true gender identity in favour of their biological sex.

DiNovo applauded CAMH’s recent decision following the

review.

“A new day dawns for trans folk in Ontario as CAMH moves forward and admits to past errors in trans care,” DiNovo said in a press release.

“It takes courage for any institution to admit errors and commit to change.”

The reviewers, two child and adolescent psychiatrists, found that the clinic focused on intensive assessment and treatment instead of the current and emerging best practice that favours watchful waiting and educating, and supporting the parents to accept the child’s gender expression.

In response to the report, CAMH also announced a three-point plan to improve its services, which includes the “winding down” of the gender identity clinic and

increasing engagement with key community and academic organizations, clients and families in determining future directions.

One of those organizations recommended in the report was Rainbow Health Ontario, a provincewide program working to improve access to services and promote the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) communities.

It currently collaborates with CAMH on a “variety of issues” said Rainbow Health spokesperson Donna Turner, who said she is pleased with CAMH’s decision to close the clinic.

“It was not in line with current best practices,” Turner told The Villager in an email.

She added they haven’t been approached with a partnership yet, but looks forward

to CAMH working with other community groups for a broader perspective and encourages others to do so.

“All organizations who serve LGBTQ communities should actively engage in community consultation, and really listen to what communities need and want in order to provide appropriate supports,” she wrote.

Until then, McKenzie said CAMH wants to help “create a sustainable system to meet the growing need for evidence-based clinical services.”

“CAMH is looking forward to working with the community to determine how we can make the most positive contribution going forward,” McKenzie said.

i

Visit www.camh.ca/ for more information about CAMH and its program.

Artist Arto Yuzbasiyan enjoys painting Parkdale

The nutcracker

HILARY CATON hcaton@insidetoronto.com

ballet winter classic: Left and top left, dancers from the Pia Bouman School of Ballet perform a scene from, 'The Nutcracker', at the Humberside Collegiate auditorium this week; top right, Avery McDonald, 11, prepares her makeup backstage in preparation for the show; and above, Consul General of the Netherlands Anne van Leeuwen, left, and his wife Ivon Kemper talk to founder, artistic director and teacher Pia Bouman, right, during the opening night reception.

Photos/ALESSANDRO SHINODA

It’s the architecture, the people and the atmosphere that draws Toronto artist Arto Yuzbasiyan to Parkdale to paint.

“It has an older feel that going back to the ‘50s and ‘40s flavour,” he told The Villager.

“It represents the true Toronto, what’s left of it.”

Yuzbasiyan has been a part of the Canadian art scene since 1973 and mostly paints urban landscapes that have a flurry of activity within them, from people hustling on and off of streetcars to other city dwellers just trying to make it home in the snow.

Yuzbasiyan, who grew up in Istanbul, Turkey, has been painting since he was eight years old. He mostly uses oil on canvas and takes a picture of the scene he wants to paint and then paints it in his studio.

He moved to Canada in 1973.

He was so fascinated by the rapidly changing city that he began focusing on urban landscapes. Curious about the other growing cities in Canada, he travelled to Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City to capture their growing urban scene as well.

Parkdale, he said, has the

Arto Yuzbasiyan created the artwork depicted on the front page of this year’s The Parkdale Villager Christmas issue. The painting is a picture of Queen Street West during a winter in Parkdale.

most authentic version of that with the added splash of a neighbourhood feel. He said he particularly enjoys painting Queen Street West.

“It’s not an isolated area like downtown. Parkdale is filled with people shopping, taking the bus, walking around,” Yuzbasiyan said.

He also prefers to paint winter scenes. He said it “adds more drama” to the painting.

“You can see in the painting people are struggling, to get through it and take these streetcars. It shows everyday life in the winter in Toronto.

We survive here in spite of our winters.”

i

Arto Yuzbasiyan art can be found at www.artoyuzbasiyan.ca

| PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 24, 2015

community

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 24, 2015 |

4

opinion WHO WE SERVE

Ian Proudfoot John Willems Clark Kim Warren Elder

The Parkdale Villager is published every Thursday at 175 Gordon Baker Rd., Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2, by Metroland Media Toronto, a Division of Metroland Media Group Ltd.

®

Publisher General Manager Managing Editor Regional Dir. of Distribution Sales Regional Dir. of Advertising Cheryl Phillips Braden Simmonds Retail Sales Manager Director of Circulation Mike Banville

City of Toronto

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The Villager is a member of the Ontario Press Council.

Visit ontpress.com

Proudly serving the communities of Little Portugal • Niagara Palmerston-Little Italy • Roncesvalles South Parkdale • Trinity-Bellwoods Parkdale • Liberty Village

Find what’s really important this holiday season

Write us The Parkdale Villager 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 press@ insidetoronto.com, or mailed to The Parkdale Villager, 175 Gordon Baker Rd. Toronto, ON, M2H 0A2.

T

oday is Christmas Eve and we’re hoping our readers are able to slow things down a bit and start enjoying some holiday time with family and friends. Though we’re sure there will still be lots of last-minute shoppers rushing around this afternoon and early evening getting the final perfect gifts, and we wish them luck, the holiday season is when residents would do well to step back from the hustle and bustle of their busy daily lives and find some time to focus on what’s really important to them.

Spending time with loved ones, whether they be immediate family or not, is such a valuable thing; and for anyone with children, it is the best gift that can be given.

Those who observe Christmas, either as a religious or secular celebration, and those who don’t, and everyone our view of all faiths or none can certainly use the fact that school is Give the gift closed and statutory holidays of time during are taking place to spread some cheer and just plain have some the holidays fun with those who are closest to them.

For many, that will mean family gatherings over the next few days, while for others it’s the chance to hit the Boxing Day sales or spend an afternoon or evening at the movies.

In Toronto, there’s never a shortage of activities to take part in over the holidays and most of them are very family friendly.

And there’s also no need to spend a lot of money to enjoy yourself with family and friends over the next few days. Lots of events, such as skating at one of the city’s many rinks, are free of charge and a great way to enjoy the season – though this year’s warm and wet weather is taking a bit of an edge off traditional winter activities such as tobogganing and skiing.

The milder temperatures, though, open the door to other outdoor activities such as a walk through one of Toronto’s many parks, ravines or along the waterfront. Also, a visit to the zoo or a petting farm is always a fun family activity at this time of year. On Boxing Day, the Toronto Zoo hosts its annual Treats Walk for the animals.

If you’re looking to find some other fun activities in Toronto over the holidays, you can visit us online at www.insidetoronto.com and click on our events calendar.

column

Tory succeeds in restoring professionalism to Toronto It’s unlikely that 2015 could have been anything other than what was at Toronto City Hall: a lengthy period of detoxification from the awful years leading up to it.

At the beginning of the year that was, Mayor John Tory and Toronto council may have had a lot of very practical tasks ahead of them, but the one that mattered for most of us was maybe the simplest: to restore a sense of professionalism, consideration and, dare we say it, sobriety, to the business of municipal public life.

Those of us whose job it was to report on this place heard it again and again, at parties where a year earlier conversation would shift around to questions about the fascinatingly terrible circus that was the Rob Ford administration. In 2015, all anyone wanted to hear was that the new mayor was as dull, wellmannered and moderate as he appeared on television.

It was a low bar, and with

david nickle the city a few notable exceptions, Tory and Toronto council were able to meet and exceed it.

There was some trouble at the Licensing and Standards Committee, where newcomer Councillor Jim Karygiannis and veteran trouble-maker Giorgio Mammoliti raised a ruckus with about the taxi industry. But generally, city hall business proceeded with shaky caution. There was a bit more trouble with the 2015 budget, when Tory learned that a good relationship with Premier Kathleen Wynne didn’t mean as much as he’d hoped, and city finance staff scrambled to balance the budget in the face of an unexpected download of social housing costs. But it all worked out, at least for now.

There were few serious

battles at council. The Gardiner Expressway’s future was one of those.

The question of whether to tear it down in the east or build a new elevated highway was debated, and the mayor – who wanted that new highway – prevailed narrowly. After, he sat down with opponents to see what could be done to mollify them. It’s ended if not happily, then at least peaceably.

There might have been more trouble had Tory decided to get behind a bid for the Olympics, in the wake of a stint at hosting the Pan Am Games.

Previous mayors might have been tempted by the promise of Olympic gold, and we could tell Tory was thinking about it. But in the end, the steady hand prevailed and we let the bid go.

There was enough sensible and mundane work to be done already, without that distracting excitement.

There might’ve been some fun fighting over the prospects of jets at Billy

Bishop Airport, but that was shut down by the new federal government, who made it clear they had no interest in opening the tripartite agreement on the waterfront, and that a longsimmering debate about jets was now over. There were few tears shed at our post-traumatic city hall.

By the end of this so very peaceful year, everyone was relaxed enough that Tory could drop what otherwise would have been a bomb, and announce he was going to ask council to add a property tax levy for infrastructure. It landed with barely a muffled thud.

Maybe we were all just too distracted, watching Donald Trump climb in the polls to the south of us – and understanding, maybe like nobody else, just how that sort of thing can turn out.

i

David Nickle is Metroland Media Toronto’s city hall reporter. His column runs every Thursday. Reach him on Twitter: @DavidNickle

newsroom ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-774-2070 | circulation ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-675-3470 | distribution ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-675-3066 | display advertising ph: 416-493-4400 fax: 416-774-2067 | classifieds ph: 416-798-7284 | administration ph: 416-493-4400

5 | PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 24, 2015

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2016 the final year of the Metropass Next year will mark the final full year the TTC will sell its monthly Metropasses as the transit commission prepares to switch its fare system to the Presto card.

To commemorate this milestone, the TTC will sell special passes all through next year, each of which promises to be adorned with an iconic city image. What’s more, all 12 monthly passes can be combined to form one unified image.

The Metropass debuted in 1980 and cost $26 for one month. Now it’s $141.50 – by far the most expensive travel pass of its kind in North America.

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Also during the closure, construction is scheduled for the eastbound platform at GO Exhibition station.

The Exhibition loop will re-open as of August.

RIDES ON THE TTC on new year’s eve wFREE

New Year’s Eve is around the corner and free transit rides are in the offing.

From 7 p.m. Dec. 31 until 7 a.m. New Year’s Day, the TTC will be completely free to use. Most routes, including the subway, will have extended hours until almost 4 a.m. You can also park for free at any TTC lot after 3 p.m.

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ON HOLIDAYS wTOinTRANSIT

Programming note: This is the final TOinTransit column of 2015.

I’m taking a couple of weeks off for a long-awaited vacation, which means the column is on hiatus until I return. Of course, keep on visiting www.insidetoronto. com for the latest transit developments.

On behalf of everyone at Metroland Media Toronto, have a safe and happy holiday. TOinTransit will return the week of Jan. 11.

Until then.

Rahul Gupta is Metroland Media Toronto’s transit reporter. His column appears every Thursday. Reach him on Twitter: @TOinTRANSIT

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UberHop shuttle service launches to rave reviews Hilary Caton hcaton@insidetoronto.com It’s been a week since Uber launched its carpooling ser vice, UberHop, and residents in the Fort York and Liberty Village area are welcoming the service with open arms.

“It’s been amazing,” said Fort York resident Kerrie Atkins.

“I’ve taken it all last week, to and from work, and they’ve all been good experiences.”

The service launched last week with plenty of fanfare as it offered the service for free along with some perks including free coffee and a gift bag.

Regular fare will be a $4 flat fee per ride and will take residents from four nearby areas, which also include City Place and the Distillery District in addition to Liberty

Village and Fort York.

UberHop runs specifically during peak rush hour times to and from the Financial District from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The new UberHop app allows people to request a car 10 minutes before their departure time and are given a meeting spot. If passengers don’t arrive on time, the car will leave as scheduled.

Faster alternative The app is seen as a faster alternative to the TTC, as many residents believe their neighbourhood is underserved by transit. Residents in Fort York are often faced with overcrowding and long lineups to board the streetcar, said Vicki Trottier, Fort York Neighbourhood Association president.

“We don’t get a seat and

we’re near the beginning of the line,” she said.

“It starts at Exhibition Place and by the second stop people are often not getting a seat. There’s also bunching, so you’re waiting forever, which makes no sense.”

“

I think competition is good and sometimes you got to shake things up a little bit.

– Vicki Trottier

Having to wait an extra 30 minutes for a streetcar if you miss it is one of the many reasons why Atkins chose UberHop over the TTC. “Sometimes they just can’t time that 509 streetcar right,” Atkins explained.

“But with UberHop, I know every 10 minutes I’ll be able to leave.”

The lack of TTC service is

also echoed in Liberty Village, said Todd Hofley, president of The Liberty Village Residents’ Association. He said the city has “continuously ignored the needs of the approximately 30,000 people who live around Liberty Village.”

“While the introduction of buses during rush hour on King (Street) definitely helped, and most would agree that the issue is better now than it was a year ago...

This patchwork attempt isn’t going to be enough and quite frankly, everyone is sick and tired of hearing the city’s excuses and foot dragging.”

The concept of UberHop isn’t new to some Liberty Village residents, who were familiar with Line Six, a chartered bus service, which served as a transit alternative in the area and that was shut down due to legal

issues involving the City of potentially taking people off Toronto. transit and putting more cars Hofley, however, said he on the road. But Trottier was believes Uber has an upper assured by Uber that’s not hand Line Six didn’t. the case; those who would “As a small startup, they individually take an Uber didn’t have the money or will now share one car as lawyers that Uber does – not opposed to five different to mention the network of people in five cars. extremely satisfied cusTrottier and Hofley said tomers to back them up, so they remain cautiously optiI don’t think it mistic about the will play out in service, but hopes Be a part of the the same way,” it sparks some discussion. Visit he said. competition in the this story on our “Plus, they’ve website and share marketplace. clearly done “The whole your thoughts in their homework concept of things the comments and UberHop like Uber is changsection. is just different ing things and, on enough that the a personal level, parkdalevillager.com  TTC would have I think competia harder time in tion is good and court” trying to cancel the sometimes you got to shake service, which competes things up a little bit,” Trottier directly with the TTC. said.

Although the service may “Whether it works or be seen as Godsend in a not it makes people think desperate transit situation, about alternatives and start both Trottier and Hofley to do things differently. The have their reservations about market will show whether it the service when it comes to works or not.”

comment

Fort York and Liberty Village among four designated areas with service to Financial District

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Fabulous Opportunity, Detached 3 Bedroom 2 Storey, Quality Built, Large Foyer, Oak Staircase, Large Kitchen, Ceramic Floor, Open Concept Living Room, Formal Dining Room, Walkout to Huge Deck, Large Yard, Master Bedroom, Walk In Closet, 4 Pce Ensuite, Garage, Private Drive, High Demand Neighbourhood!

SoLd FaSt FoR 100% oF aSKInG

veLLoRe vILLaGe 4+1 BdRm!!

Gorgeous 2-Storey Semi Detached With Walkout Bsmt Linked Only By Garage! Open Concept Living+Dining Rms, Spacious Eat-In Kitchen, Master Bedrm W/Full Ensuite & W/I Closet, Finished Basement With Spacious Rec Rm, Office, Kitchen & Bedrm, potential in-law suite. Landscaped Lot, Deck, Private Drive, Fabulous Neighbourhood, Steps To All Amenities! Incredible Value.

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RanCh BUnGaLow on 2.88 aCRe Lot

veLLoRe vILLaGe SUPeR vaLUe!

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Exceptional Craftsmanship, Open Concept Layout, Crown Molding ,Pot lights, Hardwood Floors, Gourmet Kitchen, Granite Counter Tops, Marble Floor, S/S Appliances, Master Bdrm Retreat, Luxurious Ensuite, W/I Closet, Prof Finished Basement, Ideal For Entertaining Or Nanny Suite. Close to all amenities, Steps to Vaughan Mills, Transit, Go, School, Future Subway & Hospital. Simply Must be seen! Amazing Value!

SoLd FoR toP doLLaR!

PRIme aLdeRwood oPPoRtUnIty

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Modern & Well Maintained Corner Store-Front Complete W/ Two Large Self Contained 2 Bed/2 Bath Apartment Units. Retail Area Features Large Foyer/Reception, Huge Open Workspace, Separate Office, 2 Washrooms, Recently Finished Basement & Rear Entrance. Great Location Close To Hwys & Transit. Won’t Last Long!!!

SoLd FoR toP doLLaR!

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Solid 3 Bdrm Home on a Large Premium Lot with Approx. 50 Foot Frontage, Home in Original Condition, Huge Potential to Renovate/Rebuild, Great for Renovators/Contractors or Developers, Rare Lot in Prime Norseman Area! Super Value!

SoLd In 1 wK FoR 117% oF aSKInG

QUIet CoURt LoCatIon Detached 4+1 Bedroom 2 Storey, Renovated Kitchen, Huge Family Rm, Fireplace, Open Concept Living & Dining Rm, Gleaming Hardwood Floor, Finished Basement Ideal for Entertaining, Double Garage, Walkout to Fenced Backyard, 2 Tier Deck, Fabulous Family Neighbourhood! $675,000!

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Immaculately Maintained, 3+1 Bedrooms, Open Concept Living Rm, Formal Dining, Updated Family Size Kitchen, Separate Side Entrance to Finished Bsmt Ideal for In-Law Suite, Huge Rec Room, 2nd Kitchen Situated on Spacious Lot, Garage, Private Drive.

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SoLd In 1 wK FoR 108% oF aSKInG

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Wonderful Family Neighborhood! Directly Across From Park. Detached 3 Bdrm Fernbrook Home On 54 x 120 Lot. Open Concept Living/Dining Room With Dark Laminate Flrs. Updated Kitchen with Walkout To Fully Fenced Backyard. Private Double Drive, Walking Distance To Schools/Shopping, Amazing Opportunity To Own! Must Be Seen! Only $485,900!!

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Fabulous Freehold 3 Bedroom in Credit Valley Neighbourhood, Large Foyer, Gleaming Hardwood Floors, Open Concept Living & Dining Room, Granite Countertop, Stainless Steel Appliances in Family Size Kitchen, Walkout to Spacious Yard, 4 Bathrooms, Finished Basement, Simply Must be Seen!

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Beautiful & Very Spacious 2-Story, 3 Bedrm Condo In The ‘Heart Of Mississauga’!! This Amazing Layout Is The Largest In The Building Featuring Approximately 1,750 S/F Of Living Space Plus 3 Separate Balconies! Panoramic Views Of The Lake And Downtown T.O.! Very Well Maintained – Newly Painted, Recently Refinished Floors, In ‘Move-In’ Condition. Large Bedrooms (2 Ensuites) And Living Room W/ Real Wood-Burning Fireplace.

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hUGe PRemIUm PIe ShaPed Lot

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| PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 24, 2015

Home SellinG SyStem

9

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 24, 2015 |

10

community

Parkdale-High Park residents learn how to help Syrian refugees Hilary Caton hcaton@insidetoronto.com Roughly 230 eager ParkdaleHigh Park residents gathered in Roncesvalles United Church last Thursday to find out more on how they can help make Syrian refugees’ resettlement easier.

“People who have a lot of pent up energy and goodwill are looking for a way to channel it,” said MP Arif Virani, who hosted the town hall meeting.

“It ranges from where do I donate money and clothes to how do I sponsor a family and how much money do I need? We’re just trying to answer as many of those questions as possible.”

Virani, who also serves as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, had experts and community advocates on hand as part of a panel discussion to get residents up to speed on the government’s plan to accept tens of thousands of refugees.

“What was nice was we were able to help connect people who had donations and didn’t know where to drop them off,” he said, adding he wanted the community to know

“

There were about 15 to 20 different agencies in attendance to help the community navigate and share their resources, Virani said.

We’re in a very, very wonderful country no matter how much we whine.

Working together

– Stephen Abram

that this is a Toronto-wide initiative that goes beyond the ParkdaleHigh Park boundaries.

“We’re just matchmaking in a very dynamic process. So it was great to be able to address people’s concerns and be a good conduit of information.”

The MP, who was a UgandanAsian refugee himself, takes this issue personally he said.

“This has a great amount of significance. It’s one of the key things I wanted to work on when the election occurred. It’s very personal for me. I was very young when I came to Canada and we came under very difficult circumstances,” Virani told The Villager.

“There was a lot of opportunity that was provided to myself and my family through this country and its generous immigration policies in the 1970s.”

One of them was the recently assembled Roncy Refugee Relief (RRR), a group of about 40 residents who gathered together to help sponsor a family with the guidance of the Bloor Street United Church and the Anglican United Refugee Alliance (AURA), a Canadian charitable organization assist in the sponsorship and resettlement of refugees.

They’re looking to fundraise $50,000. So far they’ve raised $20,000 amongst themselves.

“The minimum you need is $30,000, but that would cover you in Peterborough that would not cover you in Toronto,” said Roncesvalles resident Stephen Abram, the member of the fundraising committee for RRR. “So we’re thinking we’re in a neighbourhood with a bunch of well-off people who care. So we’ll work hard so that we can support a larger family with three or four kids, but we’re obviously flexible.”

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Virani said he urges those looking to sponsor to aim for high goals because the cost of living in Toronto is higher than most cities.

He also added the funds raised would help a refugee family with income and housing support, and startup costs for housing setup such as furniture.

The RRR will be hosting a fundraising Gala Feb. 4 at St. Casimir’s Church Hall, 156 Roncesvalles Ave., to help reach its $50,000 goal.

Tickets are $100 and include one drink ticket, food and a door prize raffle.

“We don’t know what size of family we’re going to get, but we’re going to help them be successful in Canada,” Abram said.

“We just want to give back. We’re in a very, very wonderful country no matter how much we whine.

You just do what you can to make the world a better place.”

To purchase tickets to the RRR fundraiser or find out more information about the group and their desire to help, visit www.roncyrefugeerelief.org

i

Visit www.lifelinesyria.ca for more information on what you need to do to sponsor a Syrian family in Canada.

Toronto Zoo hosts annual treats walk on Boxing Day Have a special holiday hang out with the animals at the Toronto Zoo on Boxing Day. The zoo is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26.

Admission prices are half off all day, with proceeds supporting the Endangered Species Reserve Fund.

Giant panda Da Mao will be featured during the holiday treats and talks tour. The tour also includes polar bears, lions and much more.

Those attending are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for the Daily Bread Food Bank. The Toronto Zoo is on Meadowvale Road, north of Hwy. 401. It’s open every day of the year except Christmas.

i

For more information, visit www. torontozoo.com or call 416-3925929.

11 | PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 24, 2015

W

Y & o ur fam u o Y G N I IlY H IS

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community

happening in

Parkdale

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 24, 2015 |

12

w Saturday, Dec. 26

Holiday Season at Fort York WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd. CONTACT: 416-3926907, fortyork@toronto.ca COST: call for ticket info Visit Fort York National Historic Site and sample some baking from the 1826 Officers’ Mess kitchen and soak up the warmth of a crackling wood fire. Check out the Museum Store. Continues to Dec. 31.

w Sunday, Dec. 27

Gingerbread Make and Bake WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Dec. 31 WHERE: Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd. CONTACT: 416-392-6907, fortyork@ toronto.ca COST: call for ticket info In this little-hands-on workshop they will use period cooking utensils and tools to sift flour, crush cinnamon, cloves, or allspice, pound sugar, and grate nutmeg and ginger as they prepare an 1800s gingerbread recipe.

community cantate

highlighted w Thursday, Dec. 31

Midnite Run and Party WHEN: 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

WHERE: Liberty Market Building, 171 E. Liberty St. CONTACT: Jennifer, 647-828-4663, admin@ goodtimesrunning.ca COST: $85 Ring in the new year with a 5K run on the stroke of midnight and then celebrate 2016 with a post-race party in Liberty Village. Register here: https://raceroster.com/ events/2015/6552/midnite-run-and-party-5th-anniversary days.

Samples may be taken home – if they last that long.

Workshop is limited to 15 participants; sign up in the Museum Store when you arrive. Included with regular admission.

w Ongoing

Parkdale Library WHERE: 1303 Queen St. W. CONTACT: 416-393-7686 Parkdale Libary hosts ongoing programs including a Peer Tutoring Club; Babytime and Leading to Reading program for students in grades 1 to 6.

w Monday, Dec. 28

Winter Holiday Camp WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until Dec. 31 WHERE: Forest School, 375 Colborne Lodge CONTACT: hihgparknaturecentre.com/winter-holidaycamp The camp is for kids aged six to 10 years. The days will be filled with wintertime games, crafts and adventures. Take part for one, two, or all four

get listed!

The Villager wants your listings. Sign up online at parkdalevillager.com to submit your events (click the Sign Up link in the top right corner of the page).

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Christmas song: Ken Whiteley, right, leads the audience in a call-and-response Christmas song, during the St. Anne's Anglican Community Cantate, on Sunday. For more photos from this event, visit www.facebook.com/ParkdaleVillager

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Youth shelter almost ready to move into new home Eva’s Phoenix capital campaign close to $11.2M fundraising target JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com With but a few months to go before it is scheduled to move into its new location on Brant Street, Eva’s Phoenix is looking to the public to help it reach its $11.2 million capital campaign fundraising target.

For years, Eva’s Phoenix has offered shelter, employment training, life skills training and other programming for homeless youth aged 16 to 24 out of a space at King and Strachan. When that land was sold off to developers, the shelter was forced to start looking for a new location, finally settling on the Brant Street site.

Eva’s director of development Alanna Scott said the new site will serve its clients well, with townhomestyle housing with private rooms and shared common spaces.

“It’s right downtown, so it’s convenient for (homeless youth) to get to by transit,” she said. “The building will be able to house up to 50 residents at any one time, and over the course of the year, we’ll probably have more than 100 youth staying there.”

The Eva’s Phoenix Rising capital campaign has already raised some $9.6 million toward its $11.2 million goal, which will allow the space to provide the same vital programs as the former site.

A $5 million grant from the City of Toronto by way of Build Toronto and developer DiamondCorp got the campaign off on the right foot, and donations have been streaming in ever since, though there is still more than $1.5 million to go before the organization reaches its target.

Particularly generous benefactors will even have a chance to be recognized.

In addition to providing housing, the Eva’s Phoenix offers three employment training streams: building maintenance and construction, sales, and the fundamentals of print.

“While we might have 100

people living in our residence over the year, we have about 150 who take our employment training courses,” she said.

The organization also offers harm reduction, counselling and its Family Reconnect Program, which works to bolster ties between at-risk and homeless youth and their families when it is safe to do so.

“

I could have died, 100 per cent, but I didn’t – I was given a second chance.

– Emily Wright

Emily Wright knows full well the benefits Eva’s provides. As a youngster attending private schools and living with a supportive family in Rosedale, she certainly did not fit the stereotypical image that most have of at-risk youth.

However, after enduring years of bullying in school – she switched schools several times during that time – and being raped, she eventually fell in with a dangerous crowd at Rosedale School of the Arts.

RELAPSES That group introduced her to ecstasy and, despite counselling and stints in rehab facilities and 12-step programs, Wright relapsed on more than one occasion.

She finally found herself living on the streets after being kicked out of a sober living facility for breaking its zero-tolerance policy toward drugs, and her parents told her she had to keep clean because they could no longer abide her behaviour.

Life on the streets was harrowing, and Wright began smoking crack and servicing johns for her dealer/ boyfriend.

When he was arrested, she began dealing drugs for a group she knew only as “The boys,” who suggested she give Eva’s a chance.

“I truly believe that deci-

sion helped save my life,” she said. “I could have died, 100 per cent, but I didn’t – I was given a second chance.”

Wright was reluctant to get truly involved in life at Eva’s, preferring to keep to herself. After a short while, however, she began to open up and avail herself of the many services on offer.

City considers establishing “Civic Hall” for creative types in the downtown core DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com

Government Management Committee.

Committee chair Paul Ainslie is asking the committee to set city staff studying establishing a kind of community centre for creative types in the downtown core, modelled on a similar space in New York City.

“Civic technology is at a

Toronto could one day have a “Civic Hall” where hackers, artists, journalists, technology wonks and other “change-makers” can meet and collaborate, if councillors go along with a proposal on the Jan. 4 meeting of the

moment of definition and growth, when a diverse set of actors is uniting around the idea of advancing the use of technology for the public good,” Ainslie wrote in a letter to the committee.

Ainslie is asking that senior city staff review opportunities for creating a “Civic Hall” and report back on June 13.

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‘LIFE SKILLS TRAINING’ “For me, the life skills training was huge – we learned how to plan a meal on a budget, how to save our money, how to handle ourselves with police and how to have a voice,” she said.

“The employment program helped me get a paying job and I learned to save 30 per cent of every paycheque in a bank account they set up for me. And there were tests and workbooks to help us learn what skills we have and what careers to pursue.”

Even after leaving Eva’s in 2005, Wright often called to speak with counsellors there, particularly when she wound up in an abusive relationship and needed someone outside the situation to convince her the treatment she was enduring was not acceptable.

“Even though I wasn’t living there anymore, I still got support every day,” she said.

Now, she is working as an early childhood educator and trying to drum up support for the Eva’s Phoenix Rising campaign.

She hopes her story shows while some homeless youth are fleeing abusive homes or come from positions of poverty, there is no one-sizefits-all definition of what an at-risk youth is.

“It could be anyone’s daughter, sister or brother who winds up on the street,” she said. “I came from a wealthy family in Rosedale and yes, my own choices played a big part in my becoming homeless, but I still deserved a chance to live.”

For more information on Eva’s and its services, or to donate to the capital campaign, visit www.evas.ca

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Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm • 905-853-2527 Toll Free 1-800-743-3353 • Fax 905-853-1765 For delivery questions, please contact 416-493-2284

chimneys

Bricks & Chimneys ccjemmett@rogers.com

Flooring & Carpeting

MAINLY FLOORS Carpet, hardwood, tile from $1.79/sq.ft. installed. Free estimate in GTA. Holiday special! Call 416-873-8043 www.megafloors.net

electrical

NESO FLOORING

Waste Removal

Waste Removal

PETER’S DEPENDABLE JUNK REMOVAL

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Quick & careful!

416-677-3818 Rock Bottom Rates!

Carpet installation starting from $1.19/ sq.ft. Hardwood, laminate at low prices.

27 yrs experience. Free Estimates. Best Price!

647-400-8198

Appliance Repairs/ Installation

Appliance Repairs/ Installation

Professional Repairs of all brands of: Refrigeration, Stoves, Dishwashers, Washers, Dryers, Air Conditioning & Heating.

Free Estimates. Warranty, Credit cards accepted. Seniors discount.

416-616-0388

Burton Electric Inc. 416 419-1772

sUdOkU (mOdeRate)

4 Knob and tube replacement 4 Service upgrades 4 Aluminum wire reconditioning 4 Breakers/Panels 4 Electrical Home Inspections 4 Pot Lights 4 FREE ESTIMATES Master Electrician * License # 7001220 * Insured www.burtonelectric.ca mark.burton@burtonelectric.ca

plumbing

BaySprings Plumbing Small Job Specialists

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

35OFF

$

WITH THIS AD

EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2015

10% SENIORS DISCOUNT

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FREE ESTIMATES

How to do it: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3 by 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

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15 | PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 24, 2015

flyers. coupons. deals. cash back.

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Get the best hand-picked holiday travel deals on vacations, flights, hotels, and more – just for Canadians!

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© Johnson & Johnson Inc. 2015 To be sure this product is right for you, always read and follow the label.

*Coupons subject to availability.

OFF THE PURCHASE OF MOTRIMAX™ 12 HOUR PRODUCTS

04396420

TO THE DEALER/RETAILER: McNeil Consumer Healthcare, division of Johnson & Johnson Inc. (McNeil) will reimburse you for the coupon’s face value plus our specified handling fee provided your customer redeems it at the time of purchase of any item(s) specified. Limit one coupon per purchase and per person, and may not be combined with any other offer.

Other applications may constitute fraud. In Quebec, do not redeem this coupon for your customer. McNeil, in its sole discretion, may refuse reimbursement where it suspects fraudulent redemption has occurred or where applications for reimbursement are received more than one month from the expiry date indicated on the coupon. Failure to send in, on request, evidence that sufficient stock was purchased in the previous 90 days to cover coupons will void coupons. Coupons submitted become McNeil property. Reproduction of this coupon is expressly prohibited. For redemption, mail to: McNeil Consumer Healthcare, division of Johnson & Johnson Inc., P.O. Box 3000, Saint John, N.B. E2L 4L3.

NOT VALID FOR REDEMPTION IN ANY STORE OR PHARMACY IN QUEBEC. TO THE CUSTOMER/CONSUMER: Provincial Law may require the retailer to charge the applicable tax on the full value of the purchase(s) before the redemption in coupon value. GST, HST, QST and PST are included in face value, where applicable. Coupon is void if reproduced or altered from original. Any other use constitutes fraud. Limit one coupon per purchase and per person, and may not be combined with any other offer. No facsimiles. Offer valid only at participating retailers in Canada excluding Quebec. Available while quantities last. COUPON EXPIRY DATE: December 31, 2015 © Johnson & Johnson Inc. 2015

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 24, 2015 |

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