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INSIDE Mealshare partners with PARC / 3

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Parkdale A NEW KIND OF SHREDDING LCBO taking over former funeral home ®

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The Parkale LCBO, on Brock Avenue, will be moving to a new location on Queen Street within a year.

The LCBO will relocate in the former Benisasia Funeral Home on 1357 Queen St. W., which had its licence revoked in early October.

LCBO spokesperson Genevieve Tomney said the LCBO will take possession of the property in April and open in the fall.

“We had been looking at a number of sites in the area, including the property at 1357 Queen St. W., which was brought to our attention by a developer,” said Tomney. “The LCBO has determined that this location best meets our operational and customer service requirements and, as such, we will lease the store premises from the new property owners. The LCBO did not deal directly with the owners of the funeral home.”

The building is currently undergoing renovations.

“It’s (the liquor store) staying in the neighbourhood and that’s a positive thing for me.

It’s only a block away,” said Ric Amis, a resident near Queen and Elmgrove.

His main concern is the fate of the current LCBO location >>>TRAFFIC, page 11

Photo/PETER C. MCCUSKER

CONS PROJECT: Burke Wilson, right, sands the edges of his skateboard stool during a CONS Project event at 358 Dufferin St. on Saturday that gives local youths the opportunity to create furniture from old skateboards.

Tips for tenants at Parkdale workshop HILARY CATON

hcaton@insidetoronto.com When it comes to dealing with landlords, it’s better to be proactive than reactive, said housing rights lawyer Phyllis Abrahams

from Parkdale Community Legal Services (PCLS).

“Get ahead of it. It’s very important for tenants to do that,” Abrahams said. “Being proactive gives you stronger bargaining position. Whoever

files first gets more negotiating room.”

Abrahams was on site at the Bloor/Gladstone Library last Thursday to provide a workshop on general advice to those who are experiencing difficulties

with landlords.

A couple living in the Ossington Avenue and Bloor Street area came to seek insight on how to deal with a landlord who doesn’t communicate with >>>TENANTS, page 14

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Local artists team up to create art on utility boxes HILARY CATON hcaton@insidetoronto.com For the second year in a row, Toronto-based artists have teamed up with StreetARToronto to spruce up local utility boxes with some homegrown talent.

This year, 36 utility boxes across the city have been transformed into life-size works of art through the Outside the Box program. Artists receive a $500 honorarium per design with a maximum of two boxes per year.

The program had about 60 submissions.

“It’s a great platform because it engages artists from all artistic backgrounds and different calibers,” said Kristina Hausmanis, the project manager for the StreetArtToronto program. “It provides opportunities for more emerging artists to do a trial run of their work in the public realm and it also encourages established street artists to display their work.”

According to Hausmanis, Outside the Box got started due the number of boxes that have been subject to graffiti and the price of removal getting costly. She said it made sense to do a trial run with artists covering the boxes in art in a positive way.

This year, Parkdale has a newly decorated utility box at the corner of King Street and Dowling Avenue designed by Parkdale resident Bareket Kezwer. The graphic designer, whose work has been displayed in Cuba, Spain, India

and Nepal, spent at least 15 hours creating piece, which has the word “SMILE” on the side, a reoccurring theme in her artwork since 2007.

“The urban environment is dominated by corporate messaging; billboards, street furniture and buildings in public spaces are predominantly used by advertisers to sell products and services,” Kezwer said.

“SMILE is about creating a space for a more positive conversation… It spreads the message that you already own the best accessory, a smile. The positive message encourages people to engage with their neighbours and bring joy into what can sometimes be a hectic, overwhelming, stressful environment.”

On the front, there’s a symbol called sacred geometry placed in the centre, which is a pattern made of spheres, a expression of unity, completeness, integrity and inclusion, Kezwer said.

She added the artwork felt appropriate for Parkdale because it was a chance to connect the community to its positive message.

“I wanted to both aesthetically and psychologically brighten the street and make a more vibrant and beautiful streetscape that builds community pride,” she said.

This is the second time Kezwer has painted a utility box with the city; her artwork can also be found at Queen Street West and Ossington Avenue.

At Roncesvalles Avenue and High Park Boulevard, Toronto-based artist

Photos/COURTESY

Above left, Jeff Blackburn’s art at Roncesvalles Avenue and High Park Boulevard. Right, Bareket Kezwer’s art is at King Street.

Jeff Blackburn transformed the utility box on the corner into friendly, cartoon-like raccoon.

“They (raccoons) are Toronto for me,” Blackburn said. “I used to work in the bar industry at the Drake Hotel and going home every night at 4:30 a.m. all of the nocturnal animals, but especially raccoons, are all over the street. That’s our mascot.”

Blackburn describes his art as character based, with a strong graphic quality and an emphasis on line and texture, mostly with

animals such as raccoons, bears and dogs.

“I’ve been playing with animal characters, I’m really interested in the texture and line work in general and how with basic lines can give you different textural effects,” Blackburn said. “Animals provide an interesting canvas for that.”

He said painting the box was a bit of a challenge, but because the city provided a template, he was able to map out the design to the last detail on every side. This year Blackburn

decorated two utility boxes with his unique style, bringing his total to four, although he had to replace a couple last year due to technical issues with the box itself.

His other design for this year can be found at Spadina Avenue and Davenport Road, but his artwork is sprinkled across the city including the outside of Parkdale’s Boreal Gelato on Queen Street West and a parkette off of Sorauren Avenue.

According to Hausmanis, both Blackburn and Kezwer’s designs were chosen for their playful and positive design elements.

“With Jeff’s bears and raccoons he’s been doing, they’re very bright and very playful and they transform (the utility box), they really, really pop,” Hausmanis said. “And with Bareket, the ones she did last year and this year is running in the same theme of SMILE. Her technique is so intricate, what she does it’s very precise, crisp and clean and also has such a positive outward message that can’t be misinterpreted.”

Both artists said they loved working with the StreetARToronto because there was a lot of free reign in terms of the designs they could submit and because it was a challenge to create a 3D piece of art.

“It has not only given me an opportunity to beautify the city, but has also given me a venue to showcase my art,” Kezwer said.

i

For a complete list of this year’s location of redesigned utility boxes, visit http://goo.gl/SUjNAj

Pies, bobbing for apples, paper costumes at Fun Fair Fun at the Fair: far left, Dale Ministries executive director Erinn Oxford checks out the raffle pies from Wanda’s Pies during the ministry’s benefit Fun Fair held Saturday at Bonar Presbyterian Church. Left, Josephine Davey-Young bobs for an apple during the fun fair. Below, Mei Ling, left, and Jahlaya Spencer play with paper costumes.

Photos/PETER C. MCCUSKER

| PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014

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PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014 |

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Policies in need of consistency I

t’s been 16 years since six municipalities were formed into the City of Toronto.

And yet, more than a decade and a half after amalgamation, Toronto is still dealing with numerous policy discrepancies, bylaw inconsistencies and service disparities in its various neighbourhoods.

Rules governing anything from snow removal to mechanical leaf collection to rooming house bylaws can be markedly different depending on what area of the city you live in.

It’s completely understandable why York SouthWeston Councillor Frances Nunziata wants to approach the budget committee to explore extending mechanical leaf collection to all parts of the city – including her ward. Currently, the service is only available in certain pockets of Etobicoke, Scarborough and a small part of York. How is it fair that residences mere blocks away in the same city can our view receive disproportionate levels service?

Time to tidy up of It’s reasonable to expect there to be a transition period from discrepancies, such a complicated process as disparities the megacity amalgamation was. But now, in 2014, we’re into the sixth term of Toronto council in its current format. It’s past time to tidy this up.

In the coming term, Toronto’s new council must make a sincere effort to build more consistent policy throughout the city – one that reflects a more unified entity that is Toronto. Councillors must understand there will be differences between putting forth their priorities from their constituents and looking at those priorities through a city-wide lens.

Governing a city with the size, complexity and diversity of Toronto is a challenging task. But a city that has more consistency in its policies can take pride in a more equitable distribution of services and still respect the unique characteristics of its 140 neighbourhoods. Providing equal access to the benefits that come with being a resident of this city does nothing to change those valuable characteristics.

The effects of amalgamation were felt strongly when it happened in 1998. The effects of amalgamation are still a hurdle today in this city. They will continue to be a hurdle as long as we fail to view Toronto as one unified entity.

A more unified Toronto is a stronger Toronto.

The sooner the city unshackles itself from a hodgepodge of policies the sooner it will be prepared to deal with present challenges.

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

column

Polite Revolution against ‘Fordian Tyranny of Bad Behaviour’ celebrates one year A year ago this week (and this day, as I write this on Tuesday) Toronto council did a very bold, and also quite fearful thing. In a meeting specially called for the purpose, council voted to dethrone the mayor of the day, and select a new leader from among their own.

It is the closest a government in this city has come to open revolt – and one might hope, the closest it will ever come to happening again.

Success Looking back over the past year, it’s fair to say Toronto’s experiment with revolution has been at least a measured success.

Part of that may be that the roots of this particular revolution dovetailed so well with our national identity.

david nickle the city Not so much a Quiet Revolution, it was a Polite Revolution against a Fordian tyranny of Bad Behaviour.

Mayor Rob Ford and his brother Doug perhaps unwittingly stoked that revolution during the meeting where council cut the mayor’s budget and stripped him of his powers, hollering at audience members, telling sex jokes and at one point knocking councillor Pam McConnell to the ground without so much as an excuse-me-ma’am.

Norm Kelly was a true Father of the Revolution as he embraced his enhanced role as deputy (and defacto) mayor. He visited his shell-shocked council colleagues one by one, said

his please-and-thank-yous, and even as the mayorin-exile’s spiralling drama continued in the public corridors outside their offices and during parts of the monthly council meetings.

Canadian way For the most part, council managed to politely ignore the Ford brothers, in a quintessentially Canadian way – passing an inoffensive budget, delaying an uncomfortable conversation about jets at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, averting eyes at the prospect of hurrying ahead on city-wide contracting out of garbage collection.

Things got boisterous on the campaign trail, but things do, and Torontonians clearly were only willing to have so much of it.

While some may have hankered for the old, hoot-and-holler approach to municipal governance, most turned away from Rob’s brother Doug Ford and cast their votes with the one candidate on the planet who could give even Norm Kelly a few lessons in table manners, the forcefully pleasant John Tory.

This more than anything is evidence that the Polite Revolution has taken hold on at least a semi-permanent basis.

As it turns out, Torontonians are not only fond of the traditional Canadian values of Peace, Order and Good Government: after a year of exposure to it, we’re also as it turns out fond of just a little peace and quiet.

i

David Nickle is The Villager’s city hall reporter. His column appears Thursday.

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

Mealshare partners with PARC to provide meals for patrons HILARY CATON hcaton@insidetoroto.com What if all it took to provide someone in need of a nutritious meal was ordering one off a menu?

That’s the idea behind the organization Mealshare.

Based out of Victoria, British Columbia, a trio of young entrepreneurs – Andrew Hall, Jeremy Bryant, and Derek Juno from the University of Victoria – teamed up with the idea of buy one, give one.

“Eight million people dine out every day in Canada,” said Juno, Mealshare’s business developer. “And if we could get a small portion of those people eating Mealshare meals that would be amazing.”

According to Juno, the concept is very simple. For each Mealshare item purchased, the company receives $1 from the partner restaurant. About 70 per cent of it is donated directly to their partnered international charity Save the Children and a local charity in

each city. All restaurant-goers have to do is choose a menu item with the non-profit’s logo next to it to know they’re helping out.

“It’s such an easy way to give back,” Juno said.

“We like that they don’t have to give anything extra or doing anything else. It’s just ordering off a menu.”

To date it’s served more than 122,000 meals with its 83 restaurant partners in Edmonton, Calgar y, Vancouver, Victoria, with 19 more on the way by Nov. 25.

The four participating restaurants in Toronto are Café Belong, Hawthrone, Khao San Road and Satanee Nana.

For its local charity, Mealshare chose to partner with Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC).

This partnership will provide a steady cash flow to its community meal program that, until now, was running solely off food donations from Second Harvest and the Daily Bread Food Bank and monetary donations from The

Photo/COURTESY

British Columbia-based Mealshare entrepreneurs Jeremy Bryant, Andrew Hall, and Derek Juno have partnered with Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC).

Boulevard Club.

For Alain Levesque, one of the four chefs at PARC, the steady flow of income for the program is something that’s “needed fairly badly,” he said.

“I couldn’t have been happier to partner with Mealshare. It’s a really exciting opportunity for us,” Levesque said.

“Our community meal

program is a sore spot for us (in terms of funding).”

According to the PARC chef, this added boost of income will provide his patrons with a healthier meal because many of them are not in the greatest health due to their personal socio-economic circumstances.

“If our ability to purchase is increased, we can substantially increase the quality and

quantity of the meals that we serve,” Levesque said. “We can be more effective with the donated food we receive and we can round out the plate better.”

The community meal program is available seven days a week.

Breakfast usually consists of light meals, such as yogurt, fruit, cereal, oatmeal or bread pudding; and lunches served are pasta, stews or curries.

According to Levesque the lunch meals try to be reflective of the culture groups Parkdale has in the community.

Choosing PARC as a local partner was “the right choice as far as social impact goes,” Juno said, because it is such a largely underfunded program that provides more than just meals. It is also a drop-in centre, provides an affordable housing option as well as outreach programs.

“His (Levesque) job is so difficult because he has no budget to create meals. If, in a month, 100 cans of tomato sauce and 80 potatoes were

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donated he has to make that work,” Juno said.

He added choosing a charity was difficult because there were a lot to choose from, which wasn’t a bad problem to have, he admitted.

“But we really wanted to support PARC because they needed it the most and they seemed like the perfect partner. PARC was the choice we needed to go with.”

Last year PARC served more than 70,000 meals and with the added boost of funding, Levesque can’t wait to start cooking even more new, nutritious meals for his patrons.

“We’ve been doing work at our end to fundraise for our community meal program and we will continue to do so.

But to have someone reach out us, to be recommended, it’s been such a pleasant surprise for us,” Levesque said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

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| PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014

community

community

Parkdale in brief

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014 |

6

library hosts wTheParkdale movie night Parkdale library will be

hosting a movie night Friday, Nov. 21 Earth to Echo, a film about a group of kids who received a strange series of encrypted messages and embark on an adventure with an alien who needs their help, will be shown in the auditorium, 1303 Queen St. W., at 6 p.m.

gallery crawl set wTheFinal for Nov. 27 final Parkdale Gallery Crawl

for 2014 is almost here.

Hosted by art journalist and Art InSite founder Betty Ann Jordan, the crawl, set for Nov. 27, will celebrate great art, design and food in the neighbourhood. This month’s walk will focus on Queen Street from Lansdowne to Sorauren avenues, offering an evening of exciting discoveries.

Attendees will explore stores, galleries, bars and restaurants from 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information and to RSVP to the crawl, visit www. parkdalevillagebia.com

Volunteers needed for wThere Toronto Public Library are a number of volun-

teer opportunities available at library branches across the city.

Are you interested in helping people gain basic reading skills or introducing children to the digital world? Are you a teen looking for volunteer hours?

Visit torontopubliclibrary.ca/ volunteering to find out how you could help out.

Market hosts design contest wFarmers’

Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market

WANTED:

Sounds are amazing – hearing your favourite ones over the holidays is even better.

If you are experiencing hearing loss, you could be eligible to participate in our no-cost, risk-free trial program.

is hosting a design contest.

Artists are asked to create a postcard for the farmers’ market

by Sunday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.

Submissions can be dropped off at the Tampered Press, 8-256 Crawford St., entrance on Dundas Street West, Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The winner of the postcard design contest will have their image used for promo/distribution throughout the 2015 market season as a postcard and it could be possibly used for other modes

of promotion.

The winner will receive $75 in Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market vouchers to use with any vendor for the 2015 season.

The top four designs will be selected over the winter and will be on display at the market next May. From there, the results will be considered in the final adjudication by a panel of judges.

The winner will be announced May 2015.

For more information on the Farmers’ Market, visit, http:// goo.gl/rtFPkx

25 people to trial the latest in hearing aid technology over the holidays

We’re dedicated to providing the best hearing solutions to our patients, and you can help. We’ll give you a pair to wear home and try out over the holidays.

When you’re done, provide us with feedback on what you think of current hearing instrument technology!

Enjoy your favourite sounds of the season this year!

Spots are limited – call today to secure yours!

416.792.9400 27 Roncesvalles Ave., Suite 409 Toronto, ON M6R 3B2

www.torontofamilyhearing.com

We accept patients who have coverage through WSIB, Ontario Works, ODSP, and VAC!

7

Artist draws on his small-town upbringing to create naïve art

Create. Play. Decorate.

y Holida ideas Gift ive.

LISA RAINFORD lrainford@insidetoronto.com Artist Gene Gray’s hometown of Wyoming, Ont. – then, a population of 600 – has served as huge inspiration for his latest work, which he describes as “naïve folksy” art in acrylic.

“I really like naïve art, but I think you have to be an outcast, an outsider to do real naïve – I don’t fit that category. Maybe someday,” said Gray with a chuckle.

The walls of his Roncesvalles Village home he shares with his wife, a teacher and documentary filmmaker, are adorned with Gray’s pieces he’s completed over the past three years, many of which are sold and waiting to be picked up by their new owners.

They are whimsical depictions of events and life experiences, even dreams, he had when he was a kid. The paintings are rooted in family, television and church – all of which played a significant role in his upbringing, said the 67-year-old Gray.

Folk art, he says, best expresses small town life at its simplest. One of his paintings features famed long-distance swimmer Marilyn Bell, the first person to swim Lake Ontario “She was the first female athlete that really stood out for me,” said the artist, who comes from an athletic family.

In a dream he once had, the young swimmer became his babysitter. Another painting depicts Queen Elizabeth’s visit to nearby Sarnia, Ont., in 1959 when Gray was a young boy. A particular piece features a spinster piano teacher’s poorly attended funeral. The woman had played the organ at the local church. Gray, who used to cut the woman’s lawn, changed her name for the purpose of his painting. It’s not always clear to him how his paintings will evolve from start to finish.

“Sometimes, they start one way and end up another,” he said.

Gray, a playwright and film grip, only picked up a paint brush eight years ago after a long hiatus from the art form that he loved when he was much younger.

He still has ties to Wyoming – his brother still lives there, however, its population has grown to about 1,800. He says he finds living

eat i r C t e G Crazy! o G . l gina Be Ori

19%

OFF

25%

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Photo/COURTESY

Roncesvalles Village artist Gene Gray’s latest work is inspired by his hometown of Wyoming, Ontario, population 600. Gray, who works in film, only picked up the paint brush again eight years ago, years after a long hiatus.

in Toronto much like small town life. Gray rarely ventures farther than Roncesvalles Village where he loves to support the local shops.

People identify with his paintings, Gray said, because many can relate to the small town experience.

The prolific painter and art history buff is already hard at work on his next series, which he works on in his home studio whenever he can squeeze it in. His paintings are for sale.

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WISEMIX Collective Art Show WHEN: 6:30 to 10 p.m. WHERE: Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St. CONTACT: Samantha Panagakos, 416-347-4724, COST: $5 Come out for a chance to win a free piece of art work! WISEMIX Collective Art Show will be featuring works by local artist Samantha Panagakos and Liliana Monteiro.

w Thursday, Dec. 4

Parks and Recreation WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. WHERE: Twist Gallery, 1100 Queen St. W. CONTACT: Anna Clarey, www.twistgallery.ca/parks-and-recreation COST: Free A showcase of interpretive paintings by four artists inspired by the Canadian experience.

The exhibit runs Dec. 3 to 13 at Twist Gallery, with an opening reception tonight.

w Saturday, Dec. 6

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happening in

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014 |

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Festive Season Celebration WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Parkdale Public Library, 1303 Queen St. W. CONTACT: 416-393-7686, pkstaff@torontopubliclibrary. ca COST: Free Join the Parkdale community members to celebrate the holiday season at the Festive Season Celebration with light refreshments and performances.

w Thursday, Dec. 11

Living Well with Dementia WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon WHERE: West Neighborhood House, 248 Ossington Ave. CONTACT: www.alzheimertoronto.org/ edu_Pwd.htm to register COST: Free Educational workshop for persons in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and their family members. Participants will focus on gaining an understanding of the progression of the disease and ways to cope.

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Black Friday + Black Cat = 11

Traffic is the only concern for neighbouring business owner >>>from page 1 on Brock Avenue.

“It’s not just going to sit there (when the LCBO vacates). I can’t see anybody just leaving it be, it’s a huge lot. The first thing that comes to mind is that location is on a side street, in a residential neighbourhood, so I’m thinking condos might take its place,” he said.

“The next question will be (about) density, is it five or six storeys or a 16-storey condo? Or maybe they’ll put a mini grocery or furniture store in there, but whatever goes there has to fit the neigh-

bourhood.”

But neighbouring businesses, like Common Sort on Queen across the street from the LCBO’s new location, remain indifferent about the LCBO coming to the area.

To co-owner Nicole Babin, as long as it’s aesthetically pleasing, she has no concerns, she said. “It may be better for business,” Babin said. “If it’s a destination place that looks attractive, more people will come to the area and maybe stop by the store.”

She’s also looking forward to the wider variety of alcohol this new location

“

If it’s a destination place that looks attractive, more people will come to the area and maybe stop by the store.

– Nicole Babin

will most likely have. Louis Papadopoulos, the owner of the Skyline Restaurant situated directly across from the former funeral home, also echoes Babin’s indifference.

“It’s only a store. Why worry about things I have no control

over.”

He added his only concern is the potential traffic this relocation could cause. A more visible LCBO on a main street would only create an increase in cars coming into an already busy area, especially during rush hour. He said he is also not concerned about those who become too intoxicated.

“It doesn’t matter. What we deal with now is nothing,” said the Skyline owner, who’s been at that location since the 1970s. “Parkdale has changed a lot. We had worse before.”

Staff photo/HILARY CATON

The former location of the Benisasia Funeral Home on Queen Street West is slated to become an LCBO outlet, moving from its longtime location on Brock Avenue.

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friend this Black Friday! community

Tenants need to be more informed of their rights >>>from page 1 them about what’s happening in their building.

“We’ve lived there for five years. The owner doesn’t live in the city and at first had a property management company managing it and that was really good,” said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous in order to not upset their landlord.

“But for some reason he wasn’t happy with it (the property managing company) and then had a friend do it and that’s when it went downhill.”

Abrahams told the 15

people in attendance that tenants need to be more informed of their rights through the Landlord and Tenant Board.

“Tenants need to be more informed about what can happen,” she said. “Landlords are the ones enforcing their rights more than tenants.”

According to Abrahams, 91 per cent of the applications filed are by landlords, and the remaining nine per cent are filed by tenants.

“We need to do better as tenants to enforce tenant rights. And when does that start? When you start looking,” the lawyer said.

She suggested FREE tenants take picAT REPARKING AR! tures of any damage to a rental space before they move in so there’s proof. She also suggested the Shoebox Strategy to the group.

It outlines that HONEST ED’S tenants should keep a shoebox of informa782 BATHURST ST. BATHURST/BLOOR tion and correspon-

THURS NOV 20 6AM

“

I think, because of the gentrification in Parkdale we see a lot more landlords using this eviction tool.

– Phyllis Abrahams

dence between themselves and the landlord. This includes copies of any letter you send to the landlord, letters received from the landlord, tenancy agreements, rent receipts, notices from your landlord, notices from the Landlord and Tenant Board and journal logs and pictures of disrepair.

“If you don’t have a system, when the time comes to face the board, you start second guessing yourself,” Abrahams said.

“You have to have evidence to help your claims sound credible. Credibility of a tenant is important especially with testimony.

You’d be surprised at how unprepared tenants are and it

doesn’t help their case.”

She also suggested making copies of everything and putting it on a USB key or emailing it to yourself to have extra copies.

Other topics discussed at the meeting included building-wide maintenance and repair issues.

Band together Abrahams suggested tenants band together and form an organization within the building and inform the landlord with a letter of any repairs that are needed.

If that doesn’t work, tenants should get a City of Toronto building inspector to look at the building then file a group application to the Landlord and Tenant Board within one year after the problem happened.

According to the Residential Tenancies Act, if the repairs or maintenance problems are in need of serious repair in your unit or building a tenant can apply

to the board for a rent freeze until your landlord fixes the problem, which prohibits your landlord from raising rent.

Another topic discussed were guidelines around evictions. According to Abrahams the most common complaints she receives at the PCLS is eviction for personal use by landlords, a reason that is a well-used loophole at the Landlord and Tenant Board, she said.

“I think, because of the gentrification in Parkdale we see a lot more landlords using this eviction tool,” said Abrahams, who added all landlords can say they intend to move into the unit and if they choose not to it’s within their right and then they post the apartment as a vacancy with an increased rent price.

“They can do that and that’s the quickest and easiest way to get rid of a tenant. It’s very difficult to argue against a landlord who says, ‘I intend to move in.’ We see a lot of

that,” she admitted.

“It raises the questions if it’s a legitimate reason.”

Working relationship Abrahams also discussed the importance to maintain a proper working relationship with your landlord even if you don’t like the way the building is being managed or if complaints are filed.

She suggested always being polite with requests and maintaining a professional correspondence.

It’s a piece of advice the couple at Ossington and Bloor took seriously.

“Our life is in their hands. If we cause too many problems, or have a bad relationship with them, they can make our life miserable whether it’s through legal ways or illegal ways,” she said.

Get more information on the The Landlord and Tenant Board by visiting www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en

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This phenomenal success is a tribute to credit unions everywhere – so much so, that IC Savings was selected as one of six to be profiled in a global case study with the Filene Research Institute. Of particular interest, IC Savings’ growth was not the

result of mergers or acquisitions, and the firm is extremely efficient.

“Bigger isn’t always better,” Mr. Gaudio says.“Small- and mid-size firms can turn around decisions quickly to apply smart approaches to methodologies and remain client focused. For example, rather than use automated adjudication for loans, we look at each family’s story and attach merit accordingly. This is one of many things that differentiate us.”

Among the popular services at IC Savings is Perfetto., a combined savings/chequing account that offers a 1.75% daily interest savings rate, a very competitive monthly fee for unlimited transactions, and for those who qualify, a flexible line of credit. Busy customers appreciate this streamlined option, and many find that Perfetto. is the only account they need.

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community

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PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014 |

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Toronto’s Community Police Liaison Committees looking for a new image MIKE ADLER madler@insidetoronto.com

population,” and have “lackluster relationships” with the police force and each other.

The committees are “not promoting community safety effectively,” and ought to make more use of Toronto’s media, and social media to better promote themselves, the report says.

Erskine, who works with the CPLC for 22 Division in Etobicoke, said members of different committees decided a few years ago “to get over the apathy that we were feeling at the time” and help each of the committees do a better job of helping police do theirs.

After writing the report, the volunteers want to produce a guidebook for the committees that identifies best ways to work and makes them more visible in their communities.

A draft of the guidebook should be ready for each group

by February, said Tim Kocur, a volunteer for the CPLC 52 Division, south of Bloor Street downtown.

Volunteer committees that work with Toronto’s police know you probably haven’t heard of them, and they want to change that.

“We could be more than what we’re doing,” Bruce Erskine told a meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board recently.

Erskine is a member of a community police liaison committee, a civilian group attached to each police division in the city.

The CPLCs, as well as Community Consultative Committees, which deal with cultural or religious minority groups, all meet monthly, or at least four times a year.

A report CPLC representatives including Erskine presented to the board a year ago said the committees “are not well known,” adding many “are missing out on the opportunity of reaching out to the larger

Kocur and Erskine said volunteers want to consult with leaders and rank and file members of the force in 2015, and want to launch a rebranding of CPLCs, one which Kocur said will probably include a new name.

At Thursday’s meeting, the board didn’t approve their request for $25,000 to help with the rebranding.

Though he welcomed the idea, Scarborough Councillor Michael Thompson said he could get a logo for CPLCs designed by volunteers.

Thompson noted the report doesn’t speak about young people, and said many CPLC members are seniors and professionals, but many matters they deal with involve local youths.

Erskine said the group is considering creating a “youth component” for all the committees and will encourage them to hold public meetings in different locations to increase their profile.

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| PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014

community

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‘Food Nation’ hopes council will work to create healthier city LISA RAINFORD lrainford@insidetoronto.com If the mayor-elect and a number of new and returning councillors keep their election promises, creating a heathier Toronto through food will become a top priority at city hall.

Sixteen newly elected councillors and Mayor-elect John Tory have thrown their support behind Food Nation, the one-year-old brainchild of Food Forward’s Food Justice Committee.

“We look forward to working with the new council,” said Alison MacKenzie, a spokesperson for the initiative Food Nation, who lives in the Junction. “We’re thrilled the new mayor has endorsed us.”

In a city as prosperous as Toronto, it might be tough to believe that one in 10 households suffers from food insecurity, a statistic that’s higher among immigrants and single parents.

According to the Toronto

Board of Health, the cost of a nutritious food basket to feed a family of four for a week in Toronto is $183.10; that’s $782.82 a month – an increase of four per cent since 2012. Meanwhile, there are neighbourhoods in the city characterized as ‘food deserts’ because they’re not located in close proximity to quality and affordable food.

These stats might sound dire, however, it’s not all doom and gloom.

There is a grassroots organization whose mission is to create a healthier city through food – by educating and advocating for healthy food and communities that are inclusive, diverse, ethical, local and resilient. The registered non-profit ‘Food Forward,’ founded in 2010, is comprised of hundreds of people, businesses, and groups who share a passion for creating good food and good food jobs.

Food Nation is its latest initiative, a movement that brought food justice to light during the municipal election.

Photo/COURTESY

Food Nation’s Stephanie Conroy, left, Darcy Higgins and Alison MacKenzie participate in a recent pop-up event at City Hall held to raise awareness of Food Nation and food policy as an election issue, by tossing bean bags into mayoral candidates’ heads.

One that garnered support from incumbent councillors and candidates alike.

Food Nation representatives made a point to visit farmers’ markets during the 2014 campaign where they knew councillors and candidates would be to drum up enthusiasm and to seek support. The group hosted

a pop-up event at city hall where group members and passersby lobbed fruit-shaped bags at holes above pictures of the Toronto’s top mayoral candidates – trying to get food “into their heads” as a campaign issue.

“Buzz grew around the issue,” said MacKenzie, adding that food advocacy organiza-

tions, such as FoodShare, has endorsed Food Nation.

By endorsing the Food Nation platform, councillors have committed to putting into motion the organization’s five-point plan. This includes: • creating healthy food neighbourhoods, places to grow, cook, sell and buy fresh healthy food; • reducing poverty by ensuring as many as 250,000 Torontonians are able to afford healthy food by 2018; • creating good food jobs – thousands of jobs for youth and marginalized Torontonians; • increasing availability of healthy food by bringing fresh, healthy food to 100 food assistance programs; • and connecting “eaters and councillors” by listening and supporting constituents to create healthy food initiatives and jobs in each neighbourhood.

During the last council term, Trinity-Spadina Councillor Mike Layton pointed out he

supported the food program in schools that ensured kids had full bellies to learn. The city encourages building applications to include food retail wherever possible.

“Often we make allowances for certain types of retail that are needed to support fresh produce,” he said.

In a letter to Food Forward before the election, Tory sang the praises of Food Forward and Food Nation and said he looked forward to working with the organization “in advocating a health focused food policy in the City of Toronto.”

Re t u r n i n g Pa r k d a l e High Park Councillor Sarah Doucette first learned of Food Nation during one of its outreach events, held at Annette library.

“I believe in this completely,” she said. “I love this idea. I’ll support them wherever I can.”

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▲Awarded by the IIHS. To qualify for 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+, vehicle must earn good in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests; good/acceptable in the small overlap front test; and basic/advanced/superior for front crash prevention -applies to 2015 Outback/Legacy equipped w optional EyeSight®. *MSRP $29,295/$24,795 on 2015: Outback 2.5i(FD2 BP)/Legacy 2.5i(FA2 BP). Ad price is MSRP plus Freight/PDI($1,595/$1,650 includes a full tank of gas), Air Tax, Tire Stewardship Levy, OMVIC Fee, Dealer Admin($199). Taxes, license, registration and insurance extra. $0 deposit. 2015 Models shown: Outback 2.5i Ltd(FD2 LP), MSRP $35,895. Legacy 2.5i Ltd(FA2 LP), MSRP $31,195. Vehicles shown solely for purposes of illustration, may not be exactly as shown.

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JAGUAR LAND ROVER METRO WEST 5448 Dundas St. West Toronto, ON. M9B 1B4

Tel: 1-888-782-8191 www.jaguarlandrovermetrowest.com Lease a 2015 XF AWD◊ with an APR of 2.9% for up to 42 months OAC. Ex: $60,824 at 2.9% APR for 42 months with $6,999 down. Monthly pmt: $649, total obligation: $34,257, optional buyout:$30,845. 56,000km mileage restriction; 25 cents/excess km plus applicable taxes. Or finance with an APR of 2.9% for 60 months OAC. Ex: $61,153 at 2.9% APR for 60 months, monthly pmt is $1,093.48 cost of borrowing is $4,455.80 or 2.9%APR, and total to be repaid is $65,608.80. Lease a 2015 LR2/ Evoque 5Dr Pure† with an APR of 4.9%/2.9% for up to 42 months OAC Ex: $41,062/$48,925 at 4.9%/2.9% APR for up to 42 months with $4,599/$5,599 down. Monthly pmt $499/$499. Total obligation $22,57/$26,557. Optional buyout $20,364.40/$25,864.13. 56,000km mileage restriction; 20 cents/excess km plus applicable taxes. Or finance with an APR of 2.9% for 60 months OAC Ex: $41,122/$48,901 at 2.9% APR for 60 months. Monthly pmt $735.30/$874.40.

Cost of borrowing $2,996/$3,563 or an APR of 2.9%. Total to be repaid $44,118/$52,464. Offers expire Dec.1, 2014. Offer may be cancelled without notice. Vehicle may not be as shown.

CONSUMER FEATURE

Honest Ed’s partners with Bad Boy Grand opening of new superstore set for Thursday, November 20th

Two true Toronto originals are set to pair up in an Annex location already well-known to the city’s bargain hunters.

Lastman’s Bad Boy Superstore is set to move into a portion of Honest Ed’s left vacant with the departure of music store Sonic Boom Records.

According to Bad Boy CEO Blayne Lastman, the partnership between his company and the Mirvish family-owned Honest Ed’s was a natural fit. “(Honest Ed’s) approached me because the Mirvishes thought it was a great idea,” Lastman said.“I loved the idea as soon as I heard it. We met to discuss it the next day and had (an agreement) the day after.”

The 14,000 square foot location will feature furniture, appliances, electronics and mattresses. The new location

will cater to the residents living around the franchise’s latest location.

“We’ll have some urban Bad Boy in there – some condo and apartment-sized furniture,” he said.“It’s our first time in the downtown core.”

He noted, however, that the store would also feature goods designed to appeal to homeowners, pointing out that while many downtown residents are keen on spacesaving furniture, others want larger pieces to fill homes.

“It’s a great area, the Annex,” he said. “The average household income is over $100,000 and the average house is worth more than $1 million.”

The chain was founded by Mel Lastman, who built it up before entering into municipal politics. Blayne Lastman took

over the reins in the 1990s and has expanded the franchise across the GTA and beyond.

The Honest Ed’s site will be Bay Boy’s 11th location, though its stay at Bathurst and Bloor comes with a time limit. The Honest Ed’s store was sold last year to developer Westbank Properties and it is expected to shut its door for good perhaps as soon as the end of 2016.

“We believe it may take a little while longer for (Westbank) to start work on whatever they’re going to build there, so hopefully we can be there a little longer,” Lastman said.

The store will host a grand opening sale at its new location, 782 Bathurst Street, starting at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, with more than $50,000 in giveaways.

Coordinated by:

Making a difference ata NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY!

One Star Time Nominations are now being accepted for the

Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards

The strength of our community lies in solid citizens.

If you know a young person, aged 6 to 17, who is involved in worthwhile community service; a special person who is contributing while living with a limitation; a youth who has performed an act of heroism; or a ‘good kid’ who shows a commitment to making life better for others, doing more than is normally expected of someone their age – help us recognize their contribution – nominate them today!

t s e t n k e c o v Gi Ba C The holiday season is fast approaching and this year, make it about giving back to those less fortunate.

Enter for your chance to WIN a

$250 President’s Choice® gift card and the Parkdale Villager will donate a $250 President’s Choice® gift card to the Daily Bread Foodbank on your behalf!

Prizes very generously donated by: Joe’s

900 Dufferin Street

Nicholson’s

Sponsored by:

2187 Bloor Street West

To enter, visit insidetoronto.com/contests No purchase necessary. Contest open to Toronto residents 18 years of age or older. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. One (1) prize will be awarded. Retail value of prize is approximately $250+applicable taxes. Contest closes Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 11:59pm. To enter and for complete contest rules visit insidetoronto.com/contests

Nominations will be accepted until November 30 Contact this newspaper or the Ontario Community Newspapers Association at www.ocna.org/juniorcitizen or 905.639.8720 ext. 221

A publication of

| PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014

online video www.insidetoronto.com/videozone

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PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014 |

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| PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014

Classifieds

community rossword

Repairing Toronto’s public housing a ‘moral issue’, says Mayor-elect John Tory

“

David Nickle dnickle@insidetoronto.com Repairing and maintaining Toronto’s stock of public housing is “a moral issue,” and Torontonians should expect significant progress on Toronto Community Housing’s $2.6 billion repair backlog over the next term, said Mayor-elect John Tory Thursday.

“I accept the fact that not everybody will see this as a moral issue, but I do,” said Tory, prior to a closed-door meeting with his transitional advisory council at Metro Hall on Nov. 13.

“These are our fellow citizens who are living in this housing. If we took every Torontonian to some of this housing and said, do you accept this? The majority of Torontonians would say no I don’t.”

Tory made the comments as he prepared to sit down

I accept the fact that not everybody will see this as a moral issue, but I do.

Mayor-elect John Tory

with his advisors in the first of what he expects will be three meetings before he takes office next month.

The next will be focussed on traffic congestion.

This one was about housing.

Tory has said he would begin spending money the

– Mayor-elect John Tory

city has raised for housing repairs immediately and put moral pressure on the provincial and federal governments to pay a third each of the cost of maintaining and repairing the city’s aging public housing stock.

Tory said he would use the prospect of job creation and skills development as a way to lure federal and provincial investment in the housing stock.

“We talked about looking at housing in terms of employment,” said Tory.

“Working on repairing the TCHC problems is also a job creation program. That

YOUR Weekly C

is going to be of interest to other governments and to people in this city.”

And he reiterated a promise Thursday that he would set a special task force to work on finding strategies to deal with the TCHC’s repair backlog and other housing issues.

But Tory said he would try and move on issues more quickly than a task-force schedule might imply. time frame “We talked about time being of the essence – even some of the time frames with the task force, we should look at speeding up that work in phases,” he said.

But Tory said he couldn’t be specific about exactly how quickly new measures might be put in place.

“When does it get up and running? I guess when I’m the mayor,” he said.

Janet De Silva TRBOT’s new president and CEO Toronto’s most prominent business organization will be led by a woman who has lived, taught and done business in Hong Kong and China for the past 11 years.

Janet De Silva will become president and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, which has 12,000 members, on Jan. 12, the board said Wednesday in a release.

De Silva has been dean of the Hong Kong campus and Mainland China operations of the Richard Ivey School of Business for almost four years, and before that was CEO of Sun Life Financial’s business in Hong Kong and co-founded a business, Retail China Limited, which has been sold.

She has also been involved in the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, serving as that group’s chairperson and president.

“I bring a unique profile of Asian experience to the table with a broad network

of business and government contacts,” De Silva told the Canadian Board Diversity Council in August.

“I can be a valued sounding board and Asian perspective for businesses active in or expanding into China.”

The Toronto Region board, which often suggests priorities for the area’s politicians, appears to see De Silva’s China experience as an advantage for its members.

“As we build the economic future of our region we know Jan has the acumen to further develop the region’s international influence,” Beth Wilson, the board’s chairperson, said in the release.

De Silva will take over from Carol Wilding, who led the board for more than seven years and is stepping aside to be the first CEO of the province’s Chartered Professional Accountants Ontario.

- Mike Adler

Sudoku (challenging)

swers

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.

last week’s an

diversions

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014 |

22

w See answers to this week’s

puzzles in next Thursday’s edition

23

| PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014

PARKDALE VILLAGER | Thursday, November 20, 2014 |

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