The Parkdale Villager, December 31, 2015 by The Parkdale Villager

Serving RONCESVALLES, TRINITYBELLWOODS, and LIBERTY VILLAGE

thurs dec 31, 2015 www.parkdalevillager.com

INSIDE Mayor Tory must address SmartTrack concerns in 2016 / 4

See what events are taking place in your community / 5

PHOTOS Making gingerbread cookies at Fort York

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What’s in the stars for Toronto next year? TORONTO MAYOR JOHN TORY

POLICE CHIEF MARK SAUNDERS

Traffic, transit and housing: The mayor’s priorities for 2016. What else is he thinking?

‘Does it concern me that people are using firearms as a decision maker? You bet it does.’

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See our interview on page 3

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See our interview on page 12

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Photos that made the news in 2015 Check it out on page 13

Campaign launched to find home for Children’s Discovery Centre HILARY CATON hcaton@insidetoronto.com ’Tis the season for giving and Jeanhy Shim is hoping 20,000 Torontonians are in the giving mood. Shim is the CEO and founder of the Children’s Discovery Centre in Parkdale, which is launching a 20,000 Bricks Campaign to help finance a permanent location in the city. “It’s quite exciting, we’ve taken it far enough along now that people really understand what we’re doing here,” Shim said. “The fundraising campaign is really, really critical to enable us to push forward (to find a permanent location).” The fundraiser will help Shim put together a team of consultants that will bid on a new location for the children’s discovery centre. Each brick costs a minimum of $25 with options to purchase $75 or $200 bricks. All donors will get their name on a brick in its permanent location, and donations of $75 or more will receive additional play-all-day >>>CURRENT, page 10

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015 |

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3 | PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015

city

Staff photo/DAVID NICKLE

Mayor John Tory’s priorities for 2016 are transit, traffic, housing and jobs. Mayor Tory sat down with The Parkdale Villager reporter David Nickle to take a look back at the year that was, and a look ahead to next year.

Mayor’s 2016 priority: making Toronto run better DAVID NICKLE dnickle@insidetoronto.com

t’s the day after the launch of the 2016 budget process — really, the first full budget of Mayor John Tory’s term — and it’s fair to say the mayor is feeling the sting of his critics. The budget is not quite balanced — councillors will have to find $23 million in savings to just hold the line at inflation for property taxes, and find another $67 million if they want to keep the promises of service enhancements that council and the mayor have made through 2015. As Tory sits down for his end-of-year interview with The Parkdale Villager, the bristling is barely noticeable. “It is the beginning — I have been working on it for months and this is the beginning of the process that is continuing,” says Tory. “We have eight weeks of hard work ahead.” Indeed, as 2016 unfolds, fixing the city’s budget and dealing with the city’s finances will be the first of a series of big jobs that Tory hopes to complete, to eventually make more sense of the mayoralty that Tory began just over a year ago on the heels of the tumultuous Rob Ford mayoralty. In many ways, Tory’s year in 2015 was about restoring calm to an office

that had seen a bit too much tumult. Polling data may have told Tory that transportation and public transit are the biggest issue, but he says that in conversation, Torontonians are most grateful for the simple stability of a mayor that if anything tacks to the dull side. ‘Balanced’ “The number one thing they raise with me every day is how happy they are that I’m conducting the job in a responsible and balanced way,” says Tory. “It’s not just about not engaging in bad behaviour — but they also see that my comments on television are balanced. They see that I’m prepared to take into account the other side.” Tory would like to be understood in this way: as a balanced, evidence-based politician who steps outside of the world of partisan politics that he himself once inhabited. He offers up evidence to that, in talking about one of the major debates at Toronto Council in 2015, over what to do with the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway. Tory advocated strongly against tearing that section of the highway down and instead building a ‘hybrid’ elevated highway — and in

the end, he prevailed. “Once the vote was over I could have said I won that vote, that’s that, let’s get on with building it,” he says. “The first thing I did was to ask my staff to sit down with all the people that most vehemently opposed the position I took and ask them how we could make the so-called hybrid much better.” The result? Tory says that the modified hybrid is an improvement on the original plan, and what had begun as a relatively narrow victory at council — he only won by 24-21 votes — has turned into a much broader consensus. Uber issue He admits that consensus was not always the result of what he termed an honest approach to issues. Taxi and limo drivers took Tory’s name in vain in early December when they blocked thoroughfares to protest the city’s slow action in curbing Uber-X drivers who collect fares via the unregulated Uber app. Tory has taken an agnostic approach to the issue — along with council directing staff to find a way to bring Uber-X under the city’s regulatory regime and acknowledging that apps like Uber will likely remain. “The truth is that when I said they’re here to stay

it wasn’t a statement in favour of Uber — it was simply a statement of reality,” says Tory. “They may not like the truth.” Going forward, Tory is bracing himself for dealing with more reality. Early in the new year, he and council will be shown reports on the efficacy of two inter-related transit projects: the extension of the Bloor-Danforth subway into Scarborough, and Tory’s own SmartTrack. Tory has been steadfast in his support of both projects, despite questions being raised about both the expenditure and the engineering possibilities. On SmartTrack, he acknowledges that there will be engineering problems — particularly in the western portion of the cityspanning project, where there are no existing rail lines. “The studies will come early in the winter — and why would I have bothered to go through the time and money, especially the time, of having those studies done if I didn’t want to pay attention to what was said?” he says. “We’ll see what the study says and make adjustments if necessary. But there will be a smart track that will run from the Mississauga Corporate Centre through downtown and out to

Markham. Can I tell you how many stations? No I can’t. But I put forward a proposal and it’s going to be a transformative transit project.” On the Scarborough Subway, Tory is anxious to take the discussion away from the one that his predecessor Rob Ford framed it as justice for Scarborough. Tory also refutes critics in the development industry and elsewhere who maintain the ridership simply won’t be there to support a subway. “The jobs will eventually develop in the Scarborough Centre and that’s going to be a good thing for Toronto,” says Tory. “And I’ve always said that my solution on transit should be a balanced solution that includes everything. It isn’t subways, subways, subways (as former Mayor Ford put it). It’s subways, LRTs, buses, bicycles, cars and trucks.” Tory says he hopes by the end of 2016 to have all of the necessary approvals in place to move forward on SmartTrack and the subway project. He is also hoping for some movement on dealing with Toronto’s public housing repair backlog and the creation of new affordable housing, with the help of the new federal government. “We had set targets for

affordable housing and missed them by a mile,” he says. “I hope we can get back closer to keeping those targets and over time catch up.” Overall, says Tory, his priorities for 2016 are “traffic and transit and housing,” and also creating jobs. Infrastructure As well, he will be moving forward with his plan to extend the Scarborough Subway levy into a 0.5 per cent annual levy to pay for infrastructure — one of what could be several new revenue tools to help the city deal with its long-term capital project backlog. “I would like you to say to me next year, and say well last year we sat here and discussed theoretically the levy, and discussed the budget which wasn’t yet completed, and you sit here and tell me that the city is better off both short term and in terms of its budgeting process and how it’s running itself, and that we’re achieving the kinds of efficiencies that I didn’t quite achieve this year, and you can also tell me that the longterm financial picture is better,” he says. “I hope I can look at you and say yes, both of those are substantially better measured by numbers, and not by my saying so.”

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015 |

opinion WHO WE SERVE

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Great things to be done in the coming year

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’s the eve of 2016. We’re all a year older and hopefully a little wiser. From the moment we’re born we begin to age. We’re cradled, we crawl, we stand, we walk, we run; always driven by our curiosity to know more, do more and be more. But how much is too much? Are we experiencing real value in our lives living in this fast-paced culture of technology and responsibility? We resolve to make changes, but most times these changes don’t stick. New year’s resolutions seem to be destined to fail. Maybe it’s because vowing to lose weight isn’t the real goal. But rather to be healthy and more energy to take care of our view have your family. Instead of saying you’re going Aim for a to go on a financial diet, how reframing the thought. life of value about Resolve to spend money only on and balance the things that bring you the most joy. You’ll soon realize you’ll save more money and accumulate fewer things. No one is asking you to come up with a grandiose plan for your future. But, of course, you could if you like. But how about simply resolving to slow down your busy life a bit and reflect on what’s important to you. Live a life of value and balance. Unplug. Increase face time with your favourite people. Find time to exercise. Take in what you’ve learned in the last 12 months and build on the good and be grateful for the bad, because the adversarial experiences no doubt taught you the most. We’re wired, tired and on the go non-stop. At least that’s how it must have seemed for many in 2015. Let’s not say the same next New Year’s Eve. If there’s something you want to do in 2016, don’t think, just do. Push through toward your goals, one foot in front of the other, because baby steps count too. There’s lots of great things that can be done in the coming year, including becoming more involved in your community or volunteering to help others. The best way to make change is to be the change and that’s the best new year’s resolution you could ever make.

column

Tory must address SmartTrack concerns If 2015 was simply about righting the ship of state in Toronto and restoring civility to civic life – and for many it was, as I argued in this space last week – the coming year is going to be a challenge for our new and agreeable city council. Indeed, looking at the new calendar, everything contained in the promise (and promises) of Mayor John Tory and his new council is going to be put to the test. There was a certain luxury to be had in the first year of this mandate, being able to set up not just the tone for a debate, but the factual basis for it. So two of Tory’s signature issues – the SmartTrack heavy rail transit system linking Markham to Scarborough and the downtown, and then Liberty Village and Etobicoke and eventually Markham, and the continued construction of the Scarborough Subway – could move slowly and

david nickle the city inconclusively through committee and council, blessed by open questions for another day. The day to answer those questions will come in 2016, probably sooner than later. Media reports have indicated there are problems with the implementation of SmartTrack, particularly in the west end where considerable tunnelling might be necessary. The question, until now avoided, of whether it makes sense to have SmartTrack run so near the Scarborough Subway extension, will need to be addressed, definitively. Thanks to the new budget process, in which city finance staff don’t do the work of budget balancing but leave that to politicians, councillors will have to find ways to pay for $67 million worth of

programs that they cheerfully approved in 2015. The continuation of enhanced transit service, investment in poverty reduction strategies… something as simple as setting up safe ice-skating on Grenadier Pond… will all depend on the ability of councillors to make hard choices and take responsibility for their decisions. The city is going to need more money in any case, and councillors are going to have to have another look at that list of possible revenue tools they so neatly rejected during the Rob Ford mayoralty. In year-end interviews, Tory has made much of his indifference to ideology in his approach to governing the city and corralling council. It has served him well so far, and could serve him well this coming year. But it might be a terrifying time. Ideology, for good and for ill, can work as a kind of road map for a politician faced with making a

firm decision to deal with a complex problem. Without a notion of where one wants to be, it can be easy to confuse pragmatism with populism, to make a call that panders to a base rather than provides a solution. That’s not to say Tory should return to his Conservative roots or sign a New Democratic Party membership card – pick shirts or skins in an oldfashioned Toronto council mud fight. But he and the rest of council should remember that over the next year and the ones that follow, there are going to be debates and decisions that together will shape both the city and the legacy. Doing it right is going to require flexibility, and thoughtfulness – and in the end, a crystalline clarity of vision.

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

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PARKDALE

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Holiday Season at Fort York WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Blvd. CONTACT: www.fortyork.ca , 416392-6907, fortyork@toronto.ca COST: call for ticket info Visit Fort York National Historic Site and sample baking from the 1826 Officers’ Mess kitchen and soak up the warmth of a crackling wood fire. Check out the Museum Store while you’re there.

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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 Try something different this New Year’s Eve. Ring in the new year with a 5-km run on the stroke of midnight and then celebrate 2016 with a post race party in Liberty Village. If you don’t want to run you can just buy a party ticket and join us in supporting the Fort York Food Bank. Register online at https://raceroster.com/events/2015/6552/midnite-runand-party-5th-anniversary

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Sorauren Farmers’ Market WHEN: 3 to 7 p.m. WHERE: Sorauren Park Fieldhouse, 50 Wabash Ave. CONTACT: https://westendfood.coop/farmers-market Join us for some deliciously local food, straight from Ontario farmers and producers. Drop by every Monday afternoon.

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5 | PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015

calendar

health

Health app aims to reduce stress for people with autism and intellectual disabilities FANNIE SUNSHINE fsunshine@insidetoronto.com York University and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) have partnered to help those with autism and intellectual disabilities use 21st century tools to better cope with healthrelated stress and anxiety. The two institutions collaborated to create 10 digital card decks focused on health and health care for Waterloo-based company Magnusmode’s free MagnusCards app. Created by Nadia Hamilton, whose younger brother, Troy, has autism, the e-flash card decks serve as easy to understand how-to guides for common everyday activities such as cooking, grocery shopping, visiting the dentist, and picking up prescription medication, which might cause anxiety in people with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.

Users are guided through step-by-step on how to complete each task by Magnus the wizard, who awards coins for each completed undertaking. Yona Lunsky, a psychologist and researcher at CAMH, partnered with associate professor and clinical psychologist Jonathan Weiss from York University to create a collection of 10 digital card decks for the app, with scenarios centered on visiting the eye doctor, the dentist, the emergency department, getting blood work done, going for a health check-up, and dealing with sadness and anxiety. Card deck topics were selected based on health services research conducted at York and CAMH with individuals who have developmental disabilities and their families, and organizations focused on autism and intellectual disabilities. “We used the concept of social stories in the past (to help teach social skills to

people with autism),” Lunsky said. But with more and more people using technology, such as smartphones or tablets, to access information, it was time to develop a tool better used for this day and age, she said. The cards will show, in simple terms, the steps one will go through at a medical appointment, she said, adding the app can be used to prepare for the visit, or as a reminder once there. “You can tailor the website and app to meet specific needs,” Lunsky said. Weiss, who is York’s chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment and Care Research, said the app is about breaking down what could be complex tasks into more manageable ones. “The Magnus app takes (assistance) into the 21st century,” he said.

For information, visit http:// magnusmode.com

Boulevard Club lends its support to meal programs and mental health Gala event raises $100,000 for two organizations Hilary Caton hcaton@insidetoronto.com In one night of fundraising, the Boulevard Club Gives Back gala collected $100,000 to help support two local organizations. The St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Mental Health Emergency Services Unit, and the Parkdale ActivityRecreation Centre (PARC) meal program are each the recipients of a $50,000 donation. “The Boulevard Club’s generous $50,000 donation will cover over a third of the entire cost of running PARC’s meal program in the coming year,” said Kathy Allan, PARC’s director of resource development. “In the past five years,

PARC’s food programs have really changed. Our kitchen is no longer a food program, it is a meal program, and an employment program, and the core of PARC’s now diverse food programming that focuses on reversing the injustices of poverty and increasing food security for everyone in the neighbourhood and across the city.” The sold-out event on Nov. 18 was the seventh annual fundraiser hosted by the club based on Lake Shore Boulevard. The evening had award-winning comedian Simon Cotter, silk aerobatic performers and an auction. This is the fifth year the club has donated to PARC and the second year St. Joe’s has been a recipient. “It’s wonderful that it’s our neighbours coming to together to help out. We think it’s a terrific partnership and we’re all really grateful for everything they’ve done,” said Maria Dyck, president

of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation. “We’re so appreciative that the Boulevard Club did this.” This is the second year St. Joe’s has been a co-beneficiary of the annual gala. The $50,000 donation to the foundation will help improve its mental health emergency services unit, Dyck said. “We deliver great care in the area, but the space i s s o m e t h i n g we n e e d to improve upon. So the Boulevard Club’s support is helping us improve that space,” Dyck said. The goal is to renovate the space into a calming environment that helps de-escalate anxiety and increase privacy with separate sections for children, teens, and adults. “The environment in which you’re receiving care speaks volumes,” Dyck added. “We’re just so grateful the Boulevard Club is helping us do that.”

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015 |

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Waterfront Location, Totally Redesigned & Professionally Renovated 3 Bedroom, 3,200 Sq. Ft. Suite with Lavish Finishes, Over 350K Spent, No Expense Spared, Top of the Line Appliances, Crown Mouldings, Custom Cabinetry, Gourmet Kitchen, Divine Bathrooms... the list goes on. A Spectacular Lifestyle awaits you. Call for a Confidential Viewing Today! SoLd FoR toP doLLaR!

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Absolutely Gorgeous Totally Renovated 4+1 Bedroom. Fabulous Open Concept Layout, Gleaming Hardwood Floors, Huge Custom Kitchen With Quartz Counter, Centre Island, Stainless Steel Appliances, and Walkout To Deck. Master Bdrm With Full Ensuite & Walk-In Closet, Separate Side Entrance To Finished Basement In-Law Suite. Double Garage, Professionally Landscaped Lot, Large Veranda In Fantastic Location For Only $999,900!!

Simply Spectacular Renovated Home, Huge Family Room Addition, 3+1 Bdrm, Gourmet Kitchen, Skylights, Formal Dining Rm, Incredible Professionally Finished Basement Ideal for Entertaining, Theatre, Stage, Wet Bar or In-Law Suite, Detached 8 Car Garage, Ideal for Contractor, Warehouse For Home Based Business, Access to Walking Trails, Close to Hwy and Amenities! Must be seen! Only $999,900!

Gorgeous Original Wood, Filled With Character + Charm, 4+1 Bdrms, Large Living Room, Hardwood Floor, Highwood Baseboards +Trim, Solid Doors, Formal Dining Room, Separate Side Entrance, Spacious Backyard, Rare Private Drive, Garage, Amazing Value + Location, High Demand Neighbourhood! SoLd In 1 wK FoR 112% oF aSKInG!

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JUnCtIon dUPLeX!!

Amazing Detached 2 Storey Located In The Junction Triangle!! Very Well Maintained 3+1 Bedroom, Great Curb Appeal, Perfect Turnkey Investment Property, Can Easily Be Converted Back To A Large Single Family Home. Many Recent Updates. 2-Car Garage With B/I Storage. Finished Basement W/ Separate Entrance. Private Backyard! Incredible Opportunity – Won’t Last!! SoLd FoR toP doLLaR!

eR anoth SoLd

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!

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eR anoth d L So

Brand New Custom Home, Spectacular Brick & Stone, 4+1 Bedroom, 2 Storey, Situated on Premium 50 x 150 Ft. Lot on End of Cul-deSac, Premium Finishes, Quality Materials, Fantastic Layout, Over 5,600 Sq. Ft. of Living Space, Formal Dining Rm, Crown Mouldings, Coffered Ceilings, Gleaming Hardwood Floors, Gourmet Kitchen, Quartz Counter, S/S Appliances, Bright Sunlit, Skylight, Master Bdrm Retreat, Professionally Finished Bsmt, Plus Much More!

CooKSvILLe eState!!

Spectacular Stone Mansion Nestled On Sprawling Gated Lot!! Absolutely One-Of-A-Kind, Approximately 5000 sqft, This Grand 5 Bedroom Family Home Sits On Approximately ¾ Acres And Is Surrounded By Mature Trees. 221 ft Frontage Makes This Property Ideal For Potential Future Development With Many New Multi-Million Dollar Homes Already Built In The Area. Very Rare Opportunity – Must Be Seen!

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. SoLd FaSt FoR 113% oF aSKInG!

veLLoRe vILLaGe SUPeR vaLUe!

Spacious 4+1 Bdrm 2 Storey Masterpiece With Premium Finishes. 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

Amazing Opportunity to Live/Work In Alderwood! 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!!!

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noRSeman BUnGaLow

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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Detached Bungalow on Large 40x133ft fully fenced lot. Needs some TLC, Huge Potential for Renovators, Contractors or Investors. Updated Windows& Doors, Furnace & A/C, Electrical Panel. Huge Basement, 6 Car Parking, Super Value. SoLd In 1 wK FoR 113% oF aSKInG!

detaChed BUnGaLow

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. SoLd FaSt FoR 104% oF aSKInG!

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BRamPton RanCh BUnGaLow

Stunning Home with Double Car Garage on a Large Lot Backing onto Park Near Bramalea City Centre, Renovated Top to Bottom including Brand New Kitchen and Main Bath, Professionally Finished Bsmt, New 24 x 12 Deck, Fabulous 32 x 16 Salt Water Heated Pool, Updated Roof/Windows/Furnace, Parks 8 Cars, Stunning Curb Appeal! Close to 410/Transit! SoLd In 1 wK FoR 108% oF aSKInG!

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GeoRGetown oPPoRtUnIty!!

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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RemInGton BUILt

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! SoLd In 1 wK FoR 100% oF aSKInG!

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mISSISSaUGa BUnGaLow!!

Spacious & Well Maintained 3+1 Bedroom SemiDetached Raised Bungalow!! Perfect For First Time Home Buyers And Large Families. Plenty Of Living Space, Separate Entrance To Finished Basement In-Law Suite, Large Backyard And Ample Parking. Close To Schools, Shopping & Transit. Amazing Value, Only $399,900!!

amazInG oPPoRtUnIty!!

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. Perfect For First Time Buyers or Downsizers Looking For Amazing Location and Space -- Don’t Miss Out!! $249,900!

oCean CLUB CondomInIUmS

Brand New Luxurious Waterfront Resort Style Living, Fabulous 1+1 Bedroom Suite Loaded with Upgrades, Hardwood Floor, Built-in Appliances, Mirror Closet, Granite + Quartz Countertops, Large Balcony, Clear Gorgeous Views of Lake + Toronto Skyline, Amazing Value & Opportunity, Must Be Seen! Only $369,900!

amazInG vaLUe In weSton!! Bright And Charming 2-Storey Stacked Townhouse!! Very Well Maintained 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Perfect For First Time Buyers And Investors. Many Recent Updates. Includes Parking And Locker. Close To Transit. Shows Amazing And Priced To Sell, Only $249,900!

LUXURy wateRFRont Condo!!

Spacious open concept suite with 10ft ceilings, modern kitchen with Stainless Steel Appliances, Elegant Laminate Floors, Floor to ceiling Windows, Walkout to Gorgeous 370sqft Terrace with Views of Lake and Park. Fabulous Amenities and Steps to Transit, Must Be Seen Only $549,900!!

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50 x 116 Ft Lot Near Port Credit, Current 3+2 Bdrm Bungalow with Basement Apt, Needs Some TLC. Comes with Huge 2.5 Car Detached Garage Built in 2012 with Furnace, Hydro and Washroom. Long Private Double Drive, Perfect for Builders or Renovators! Steps to Lake, Park and All Conveniences. Only $549,000!

hUGe PRemIUm PIe ShaPed Lot

Detached 3+1 Bedroom 2 Storey, Simply Fantastic Lot Professionally Landscaped Pattern Concrete Patio, Walkway & Driveway, Professionally Landscaped Garden, Custom Large Shed, Open Concept Living Room, Hardwood Floor, Family Size Kitchen, Walkout to Patio, Professionally Finished Bsmt, Close to Amenities! Only $549,900!

one PaRK toweR

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Large Corner Suite Complete With 2 Bathrooms & 2 Parking Spots! Located On A Quiet Street Surrounded By Green Space, Many Upgrades Including Renovated Kitchen, Renovated Main Bath And 3 Piece Master Ensuite. In-Suite Laundry/ Storage, Spacious Master Bedroom, Living & Dining Rooms. Priced To Sell -- Must Be Seen!!

ISLInGton/ QUeenSway Prime Etobicoke Location, Quiet Executive Townhome, 3 Bedrooms, Huge Living/Family Room, Formal Dining, Needs TLC, Amazing Value + Opportunity! SoLd In 1 wK FoR 103% oF aSKInG!

eXeCUtIve home

Rarely Available in Demand Complex Near Etobicoke Creek, Renovated Modern Kitchen, Formal Dining Room, Spacious Open Concept Living Room, Walk Out to Large Deck Overlooking Tranquil Greenspace, Professionally Finished Basement, Wet Bar & Rec Room Ideal for Entertaining, Master Bedroom Retreat, High Demand Location! Only $479,900!

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Renovated 2 StoRey townhome!! Beautiful & spacious 3 bedroom plus den on ground floor. 3 baths, Private gated patio. Great location close to TTC, shopping, hwys, parks, schools. Excellent amenities. Shows very well. Must be seen. SoLd FaSt FoR toP doLLaR!

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| PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015

Home SellinG SyStem

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015 |

community

Current location slated to become a condominium >>>from page 1 passes for their next visit. “I’m really putting my belief in 20,000 Torontonians out there who will buy this $25 brick to help keep this dream alive, essentially,” Shim said. The centre itself focuses on open play-based learning that isn’t overly programmed. It’s something Shim intentionally wanted to do with the space. There are 10 discovery zones for kids to explore at their own pace and are designed for the development of children under the age of 6, but children 12 and under can attend. The Children’s Discovery Centre, at 45 Strachan Ave., is slated to become a condo as part of the Garrison Point development. Shim and her team have been using the

space for the pilot project, which initially had a shelf life of four months. Its popularity grew and their stay was extended until May 2016. “We engaged with more than 8,000 families who brought their little ones. It’s a very special place and the feedback we’ve gotten from families has been phenomenal,” Shim said, “So I think it proves that there’s a demand for it. There’s also a baby boom happening in the city with condo dwellers.” But it’s not just downtown dwellers discovering the children’s centre. Shim said roughly 40 per cent of their visitors come from the 905 area. “I think it speaks to the fact that families with children under six are starved

for really interesting places to take their young ones,” she said, adding that places like the Art Gallery of Ontario and Royal Ontario Museum tend to be beyond their level of comprehension. If all 20,000 bricks are sold for $25 each, that would generate $500,000. If the campaign is successful Shim intends to keep the Children’s Discovery Centre in the downtown area. “I hope that we’ve proven enough to the families who’ve visited and to the people who have heard of it. It was grassroots that got us here and I really believe in its power to take the Children’s Discovery Centre to the next level with this fundraising campaign.”

To buy a brick for the campaign, visit www.childrensdiscoverycentre.com

“ Yo u r F r a m i n g E x p e r t ”

Photo/AARON HARRIS

Children play and learn at the Children's Discovery Centre at 45 Strachan Ave. The Centre is looking to fundraise at least $500,000 to help find a permanent location.

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RAHUL GUPTA rgupta@insidetoronto.com Users of the Presto fare card will get a few more weeks to enjoy the use of time-based transfers throughout the TTC network. Time-based transfers allow for travel in any direction within a specific window, and the TTC has long had the fare policy in effect — but only on the 512 St. Clair West streetcar route. Some Presto users – posting on the popular discussion site Reddit – reported they were not charged for an additional TTC fare despite tapping on at least twice within two hours. This was confirmed by TTC spokesperson Brad Ross, who said the time-based transfers will remain in effect for anyone using Presto, until a software update scheduled for Jan. 18, 2016.

TTC transfer rules will apply after the software change.

– Brad Ross, TTC spokesperson

Staff photo/RAHUL GUPTA

Users of the Presto fare card will get a few more weeks to enjoy the use of time-based transfers throughout the TTC network.

“TTC transfer rules will apply after the software change,” said Ross over email last week. With the TTC working to complete Presto card reader installations to its legacy streetcar fleet by the end of 2016 – the new Bombardierm a n u f a c t u re d m o d e l s already come equipped with

the technology – Ross said a window opened for using time-based transfers. “We were aware that there would be two to three weeks after announcing the old streetcars have Presto where TTC transfer rules wouldn’t apply,” he said. “Nothing has changed for Presto users on the TTC. That change will

A Very Beary Christmas

occur January 18.” Currently, TTC fare policy only allows transfers for oneway continuous travel, with no stopovers or backtracking.

Despite having added the time-based transfers to the 512 line over 10 years ago, many riders had no idea the policy was in place until the TTC recently increased promotion of the service. Although it has no plans to remove time-based transfers from St. Clair West, the TTC has also resisted expanding the policy because of an estimated $20 million hit to rev-

enue, and no corresponding funding support from other levels of government. A 2014 staff report also found a time-based option could potentially save the TTC at least $15 million annually by reducing the improper use of existing transfers. Ross said two per cent of TTC riders currently make use of Presto.

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PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015 |

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Chief weighs in on challenges facing police in 2016 ANDREW PALAMARCHUK apalamarchuk@insidetoronto.com Despite a rise in global terrorism, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders says there’s no credible threat against the city. But the chief stresses that doesn’t mean all is well. “It’s a different world right now,” he said in a year-end interview in December. “We need to be more alert. We need to be more vigilant in our dayto-day processes if we want to keep the city safe.” According to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index, there has been a dramatic rise in terrorism over the last 15 years with nine times more people being killed in terrorist attacks today than in 2000. The report, released last month by the Institute for Economics and Peace, found that terrorism spread significantly in the past year, with attacks and fatalities in more countries than ever. “We work on a provincial, national and international level. We’re in constant communication with law enforcement agencies around the world and we are kept up to speed

Staff photo/ANDREW PALAMARCHUK

Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders reflects on 2015, and looks ahead to challenges facing the Toronto Police Service in the coming year.

with information in real time,” Saunders said. “We’ve got a very good machine when it comes to national security. ... I feel comfortable in knowing that if we do have to turn it on that we do have a good plan in place that will be effective.” According to a CNN report earlier this month, ISIS has conducted or inspired at least 50 terrorist attacks in 18 countries that have killed 1,100 people and injured more than 1,700

others since June 2014. “It’s always on the back of my mind,” Saunders said of a terrorist threat. “It’s not like we sit and wait for something to happen. There are things that are in the works on a dayto-day basis, 24 hours a day when it comes to national security.” Saunders, a married father of four, was appointed chief in April, making history as the city’s first black top cop. “If it serves as a role model for any member of the community, then it’s a good thing,” he said. “I threw my hat in the ring because I was hoping to move the Toronto Police Service to the next level, the next generation of policing, and I have a particular vision in which I would like us to move in, so that’s the first and foremost reason why I was interested, and the history piece, I kind of stuck that more or less behind me, but I’m grateful that that’s how it has been considered.” At his swearing-in ceremony, Saunders called the cost of policing an “urgent” issue and vowed to “examine everything we do” in an effort to find efficiencies. A recently formed task force,

chaired by Saunders and Toronto Police Services Board chair Andy Pringle, will study ways to modernize the force, which has an annual budget of $1 billion. “This task force is going to look at what we can do to transform the existing model, what we can do to modernize the model of policing to make sure that we can be even more effective and efficient,” Saunders said. “Whether it’s looking at technology and using it to help us keep the city safe or it’s looking at the shift model in policing, how we can modify that to get the most out of the assets that we have, I think are some critical components.” A 2011 efficiency report found that $35 million could be saved with a schedule change. There are currently as many officers on duty in the early morning hours as there are during the busy evening hours. “It’s going to take a tremendous amount of research. It’s not a matter of making change for the sake of making change,” Saunders said of the task force. “We really have to be careful in the approach that we take to make sure that what we do is the right thing to keep Toronto safe.”

In May, Toronto police unveiled a body-worn camera pilot project involving nearly 100 officers. Saunders said the project, which ends in March, is “going well” but wouldn’t reveal whether he thinks it should be expanded. “I don’t want to promote too much of what my feelings are,” he said. “I’m going to look at the research and see what the research tells me.” As of Dec. 21, there were 243 shootings involving 381 victims in the city in 2015, compared to 174 shootings and 231 victims at this time last year. “We have to be careful because the connotation is that this is now a pattern and it’s on the rise. It’s only compared to one year, which is last year. Last year is a bit of an anomaly year,” Saunders said. “Does it concern me that people are using firearms as a decision maker? You bet it does. It concerns me tremendously. And then the question is: What do we need to do to deploy our officers in the right areas at the right times so we can reduce that from happening? And that’s the process that we’re moving towards right now.”

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THROUGH THE LENS

A look back at the photos that made the news in 2015

1. Canadian athletes march into the Pan Am Dome at the Games opening ceremony July 10. Staff photo/Dan Pearce 2. Lucas Spencer and the rest of the East York Hockey Association’s Little Stanley Cup peewee division hoists the trophy as they celebrate their victory March 28. Photo/Allen Agostino 3. Residents gather Feb. 21 to remember Elijah Marsh, the toddler who died after wandering from his North York home. Staff photo/Nick Perry 4. A dancer performs as a peacock during the Scarborough Tamil Festival Aug. 29. Photo/Manny Rodrigues 5. Dylan Grisell, 20, leaps off the platform during Dive Ontario’s demonstration at Summerville Pool Aug. 13. Staff photo/Andrew Lahodynskyj 6. Canada’s Jerret Llewellyn competes in the opening round of the Pan Am Games men’s waterskiing tricks competition at Ontario Place July 20. Photo/ Peter C. McCusker 7. Dog owners venture out into the cold Feb. 13 for a walk near Lake Ontario in Etobicoke. Staff photo/Ian Kelso 8. Former Prime Minister Paul Martin, right, and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau (prior to his success in the federal election) visit Inspectech in Scarborough Aug. 25. Staff photo/Mike Adler

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| PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015

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PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, 2015| | PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday,December December 31, 31, 2015

14 14

diversions

sUdOkU (Challenging)

| |PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015 PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, December 31, 2015

YOUR WeeklY CROssWORd

15 15

last Week’s ansWeRs

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.

w See answers to this week’s

puzzles in next Thursday’s edition

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