Who is Toronto?

INFERNO AMRITPAUL SAGGU @_AMZZZ_ART_ AMRITSAGGU55.WIXSITE.COM/WEBSITE

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06 . who is toronto?

Who Are We? - Trinity Theatre…8 Trinity’s Summer Leadership Lab...10 Dear Society - Ambuj Chananna…12 Quote - Amritpaul Saggu…17 Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship - Nikki Pagaling & Tina Chan…18 Quote - Parima Shelat…24 Quote - Deema Abu Naser…25

CONTENTS Living the Change - Ashnaa Narumathan and Parima Shelat…40 Quote - Muhammad Farooqui…42 Quote - Ashnaa Narumathan…43 Far From Home - Bryan Felipe Orobio Reina…44 34. leadership lab Malvern Project - Team Malvern…48 Team Greenwood - Team Greenwood…50 Quote - Michael Olarewaju…58 It’s Me - Rebecca McLaren…69 Quote - Francine Byron…75 The World Against Me - Justin Li…76 70. volunteer opportunities The Community Galaxy - Team Weston…79 Postcard - Chantelle Ing…80 Zoetic - Chantelle Ing…81 Untitled Poems - Michael Olarewaju…83 Woodbine: More Than Meets the Eye - Mohit Sharma…84

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WRITING

02. inferno

46. confidence

72. my local library

VISUALS Untitled - Charu Sharma…1 Emotions Gone By - Amritpaul Saggu…16 Brother in the Rain - Charu Sharma…32 Where the sidewalk ends - Charu Sharma…35 AMZz - Amritpaul Saggu…36 Good Morning, Good Night - Charu Sharma…38 Collage - Ashnaa Narumathan and Parima Shelat…41 UUNI - Amritpaul Saggu…49 But what is home? - Deema Abu Naser…60 Untitled - Sinthujah Gunas…66 I Scream - Rebecca McLaren…68 My Local Library - Matt De Melo…72 The Aliens of Outreach - Team Weston…78 Identity - Ashnaa Narumathan and Parima Shelat…82 Untitled - Charu Sharma…88

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Sincerely, Trinity Theatre

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WHO ARE WE? TRINITY THEATRE TORONTO - IN SUMMARY

Trinity Theatre is a registered charitable organization, founded in 1982 to provide integrated and experiential learning using both the arts and intergenerational interactions.

Creating Communities We Want - a suite of programs and service offerings which help build safe and caring school communities which includes the following:

Our social development programs give schools the tools to develop safer, more productive learning environments and to empower youth to take on leadership roles in the social and emotional development of their peers:

Peer to Peer - a youth engagement program in which older students are trained to become peer leaders for younger students as they transition into high school

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Making Connections - a curriculum-linked health promotion program which addresses underlying behavioural, social, and environmental determinants which affect at-risk youth in expulsion.

Handling Conflict - peer mediation training for settling disputes formally and informally, as an alternative to suspension Applied Civics - a peer-led program that enables youth to find and/or create meaningful volunteer service opportunities in the community Trinity’s co-directors, Alan Richardson and Sandra Crockard, have over 35 years of experience creating peer leadership programs in schools across Canada and the United States. They draw from a variety of mentoring and mediation practices to provide effective tools for change and to help students build both empathy and compassion. Their programs have successfully improved attendance and class management issues, reduced stress levels, and decreased suspensions and referrals to administration.

With funding support from the Canada Service Corps, Canadian Heritage, National Crime Prevention Strategy, Justice Canada Youth Justice Fund, Health Canada Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund, the Toronto District School Board, and others, Trinity has been able to train youth leaders

to support thousands of students in transition and at-risk, giving them the ability to balance their social, emotional, and ethical development with their academic achievement.

Trinity relies on the advice of a Board of Directors and an Intergenerational Advisory Group - a diverse group of secondary school and post-secondary students, Peer Leader Alumni, retired educators, seniors, teachers, school administrators, social workers, health professionals, and other stakeholders interested in youth engagement, so cial/emotional development, health promotion, inclusion and community building.

“AT TRINITY THEATRE, WE USE THE FUNDAMENTAL PRACTICES OF THEATRE TO EMPOWER YOUTH AND TO BUILD COMMUNITIES.”

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TRINITY’S SUMMER

LEADERSHIP LAB

Empowering Toronto Youth to Strengthen their Communities.

Since 2011, Toronto-based peer leaders have had the opportunity to heighten their leadership development by participating in an intensive, masterclass summer program called The Leadership Lab. The Leadership Lab allows Trinity to collaborate with a team of diverse youth to develop new programs, credit courses, and training materials.

For students passionate about exploring peer leadership, civics and careers, and transition support, Trinity’s Leadership Lab offers summer employment, volunteer opportunities, and OSSD credits.

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Each summer, Trinity students combine research into the history of their local communities with social scans and asset mapping, and they carry out interviews with key people involved in community infrastructure such as civics, business, environment, heritage, health, and arts. Students are then empowered to use the outcomes of this research to identify the strengths and needs of their communities, create youth-led neighbourhood walking tours and interactive community forums, and develop classroom workshops for use in their schools. This year, Trinity Theatre’s Torontonian youth went a step further to have their voices heard; the remarkable team developed this publication to reach leaders across Canada.

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Dear Society,Will I ever be good enough for you? Pretty enough? Thin enough?

Feminine enough?

You see, ever since a young age, I’ve been taught to be a certain way, To sit up straight, be the pretty little pearl.

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Society had put me in a cage and they labelled it GIRL! Rooted in each one of my insecurities Is an expectation of the ideal girl That I just, couldn’t be. Forgive me for having a mind of my own, Because individuality is something you don’t condone, Right?

7 in 10 girls believe they’re not good enough In terms of their looks, relationships and books.

All due to the fact that society Just couldn’t keep its mouth closed, Always expecting us to be pretty and composed.

Let’s talk about the beauty industry, Preaching everyone is perfect while simultaneously Handing me the the newest face lotion…

To dull my scars, Even out my skin, Brighten my complexion Here, try our latest makeup collection.

All of a sudden you hit a certain age and Society, throws makeup into your cage.

But, don’t wear too much because, then you’re trying too hard.

But, don’t be bare faced because, now you’re just being lazy, My face is like a canvas and it's driving me crazy!

One day, I too will be beautiful…

Well, at least maybe.

But for now, How many layers of makeup will it take to cover this self-doubt?

How much money should I spend at the Sephora checkout?

Hey, don’t get my words twisted There’s nothing wrong with makeup, But it's the expectation to wear it That shouldn’t have existed.

Hey, doN’t geT mY woRdS tWisTEd

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Another thing that gets under my skin Is the illusion that all girls were made to be thin.

But not just skinny, They want “Slim Thick” It’s the overuse of that term which makes me sick.

How unrealistic is it to expect girls to shrink Right down to the Barbie sized waist But wait, don’t let the Kim K curves be displaced.

Expectations are seven foot tall hurdles Society wants us to jump over.

They’re even keeping score as we fall to the floor.

Laying in front of my own hurdle I hear A distant Tick Tock, Tick Tock.

Time is at the door and she’s in shock, At just how much of her I've wasted Trying to be “Perfect”.

Unexpectedly a bell rings in my head.

Why am I allowing myself to be mislead?

Maybe it's judgment that I dread.

But go ahead, Judge me.

Judge me because I’m different, Judge me because I have a voice, Judge me because I’m calling you out.

Judge me.

Do as you please, I know my individuality puts you at unease But, Hey, Society, I’ve come to see, I'll never be enough for you, But I'm enough for me.

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I’lL neVEr be enOuGh foR yoU, But I’m enOuGh foR me.

AMbuJ ChANanNA @_chananna

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In my art piece, I included a lot of emotions in the background: good ones, bad ones, and some random ones too.

The buildings represent time; the buildings at the top represent the present, and the upside down buildings on the bottom represent the past (the dark times, if you will). The word in the middle says “Love” because no matter what stage you’re at in life, you must have love

to keep you going.

I want to help others on my journey, and as many people as I can: peers, teachers, everyone! I know what it feels like to lose yourself while you’re going through pain that’s my story. amritsaggu55.wixsite.com/website | @_amzzz_art_

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Marker on paper Amritpaul Saggu

r u

“Knock! Knock! Bang! Your head is now on a table, and the bang was a bully smashing your head into the desk. Many people go through stuff in life: good and bad. Like many others, I went through sadness, depression, and long nights where I didn't want to come back from dark thoughts. But after all I’ve been through, I want to help others. So, I began to learn about how others felt their emotions and what their problems were, and now I am so happy I can help.”

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Introduction to

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP A guide by Nikki Pagaling & Tina Chan

What is social entrepreneurship?

Social entrepreneurship is a model for enacting social change by developing and leveraging social capital within a local area. By leaning on local knowledge, experience, and the power of grassroots organizations, social entrepreneurs create innovative and accessible solutions to various social problems in ways which meaningfully engage a local community. Social enterprises employ market-based strategies to accomplish what is called the “triple bottom line” - social, environmental, and economic goals.

Social - measures the well-being of the people involved, including: employees, labourers, and the wider community Environmental - minimizes one’s ecological impact on the planet Economic - corporate profit

TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE GOALS SOCIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

ECONOMIC

What is...

SOCIAL CAPITAL?

What is social capital?

Social capital is a critical element to the success of social entrepreneurship models. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines it as the “the links, shared values, and understandings in society that enable individuals and groups to trust each other and to work together”. Social capital frames both weak and strong interpersonal relationships; this is the currency needed to enact meaningful change.

Some examples of social enterprises include: •Pay-what-you-can local supermarkets (e.g. Feed it Forward, 3324 Dundas St W, Toronto) •Coffee shops and co-working spaces that assist the settlement of newly arrived refugees (Livelihood, 254 Augusta Ave, Toronto) •Retailers which incorporate socially-conscious and ethical business relationships (GenuineTea, Ten Thousand Villages) •Open-source learning platforms which work on projects for non-profits (Free Code Camp)

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Steps to developing a social entrepreneurship mindset: 1. Identify a social problem that is important to you.

Think about the social issues you are passionate about and/or pressing concerns within your community.

Consider the following: What exactly would you like to tackle and why is it significant?

Present new patterns or trends using concrete data in order to strengthen your cause.

Look at current events, news, and statistics of your chosen social issue. These elements can provide additional support that the problem is a legitimate concern in society. It is important to situate oneself from a central, societal standpoint rather than from a micro, individual level to ensure that the topic and initiative can resonate with community members. Trending issues and projects dealing with these issues are more likely to garner support from external members.

Conduct a credible Google Search, interview community members, and/or look at health and safety indicators (such as Toronto Wellbeing data) to find relevant support.

2. Develop a mission statement Identify and define the values of your organization and describe how they are integral to achieving your goals.

Consider the following: What are the values, goals, and purposes for your organization?

Define what your organization does for the population you hope to target. Identify who will take lead responsibility.

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3. Research the problem and understand its root cause(s) Examine the social issue on a larger scale and identify the ways in which it has manifested at the local level of your neighbourhood or community. Remember to focus on socio-economic, environmental, and/or cultural factors at play, not individual circumstances or lifestyles.

Consider elements which impact one’s living and working conditions, such as: income levels, race, gender, availability of resources, physical environment, health behaviours, social support, education, and employment opportunities. How have these socioeconomic, environmental, and/or cultural factors changed over time? What might explain these patterns?

If you look at food insecurity, for instance, you can examine changes in policies, programs, and urban development which has led to the creation of food deserts in certain neighbourhood.

Research collection methods may include: collecting data from individuals in the community through surveys/interviews or utilizing existing records such as the Toronto Archives, World Health Organization, City of Toronto, or Statistics Canada.

4. Develop a solution and action plan which leverages people-power In social entrepreneurship models, reliance on governmental bodies and corporations is minimal as the focus is instead on the strengths of local changemakers. The lived experience, knowledge, and connections of local people are invaluable components to success. Social enterprises work because of the unity amongst their members!

Consider the following: Identify key stakeholders and develop strategies to secure their commitment. Establish meaningful relationships and partnerships. Map your project. Acquire feedback from stakeholders and interest groups on your proposal.

Finalize your project.

Understand the demographics of your target audience. Depending on their characteristics (e.g. race, socioeconomic status, etc.), you may want to develop an action plan which caters towards the unique community and addresses issues which may arise from the project, such as language barriers.

Research existing services within the area. Services which have similar objectives, goals, or programs may create competition for funding. Furthermore, the similarities may cause stakeholders to feel hesitant or uncertain.

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5. Identify funding sources (or opportunities for collaborations) Funding can come from either private or public sources. Public funding generally refers to revenue collected by the state (i.e. taxes), while private funding is generated without government involvement (e.g. donations from a business/university). Funding opportunities can be found on an agency’s website, at a grant management office, or even in newsletters.

Before you apply for funding, consider if the project is “FINER”: Feasible: Is the project possible given certain constraints (time, money, etc.)?

Interesting: Is your project compelling? How does the project contribute to society?

Novel: Has this project been done before? If so, is there room for change or collaboration? How can you make it original (consider the year, location, population, social issues, etc.) ?

Ethical: Are the objectives ethical?

Relevant: Is the project applicable to current trends and issues present in society today?

Funders may ask for a letter of intent/letter of inquiry/project proposal in order to determine whether your project matches their values and areas of interest. Proposals must answer the following: •What is the issue?

•How will the proposed project help solve the issue?

•How will money contribute to achieving the prospective outcome? How will the money be distributed?

•How will success be evaluated?

If there are similar existing programs or services, see whether there is an opportunity for collaboration or partnership. Besides, if both groups are trying to achieve the same goals, you can pool resources and knowledge together for greater potential of success.

WHEN APPLYING FOR FUNDING, IS YOUR PROJECT:

FEASIBLE

RELEVANT INTERESTING

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ETHICAL NOVEL

6. Take action The final step is to implement your social enterprise. Social enterprises focus on enacting social change to improve lives. By creating the equitable communities we want, we can contribute to improving the overall health and well-being of the planet.

How can I get involved in social entrepreneurship?

Junior Achievement - a high school program in which students create their own start-up companies while being mentored by a group of professionals https://www.jacentralontario.org/ WE Social Entrepreneurship Centre - a collaborative centre for Canadian schools, colleges, and universities to promote “business as a tool for social change” and to empower young people https://www.we.org/ Young Entrepreneurs, Make Your Pitch - an entrepreneurship competition which challenges high school students to pitch their business ideas to experts in the field https://www.makeyourpitch.ca/home

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“The opportunity to work together and better the community through exploration, personal storytelling, and tackling challenges has been an eye-opening experience.�

Parima Shelat @parima.15

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"I will make everything around me beautiful."

Deema Abu Naser @deemalovesdrama

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HOMEMAKING AMONGST

SECOND-GENERATION

IMMIGRANTS Text and photos courtesy of Nikki Pagaling, @nikkimarypagaling Woman of colour. Second-generation, Filipino immigrant. Born and raised in Toronto. These critical elements of my identity structure the way I navigate, interact with, and understand the various places which shape what I define and understand as home. But what is home for someone like myself, who is rendered by others as an “outsider” in both the Philippines and in Toronto?

Home is more than just a physical structure which provides shelter, it is also a feeling. I have always identified the city of Toronto as my home; it is where I was born, where most of my friends are, where a lot of my memories have been made, and where I feel the most comfortable. I’ve turned spaces into places in Toronto by attaching significant meaning and value to parks, cafes, streets, and buses which operate and exist in the city. Why would I call a place “home” if I haven’t developed meaningful relationships or connections to it? My affinity for Toronto as my home has generally always felt like common sense.

As a second-generation immigrant however, my parents have always tried to enforce this idea of the Philippines being my home, since it is where they were born and where they immigrated from.

“You need to call your family back home.”

“You need to go home and see your family.”

Forcing me to call a place home without having the opportunity to develop my own place attachments has resulted in shame, detachment, and a general feeling of dislike for being Filipino. I guess my parents were trying to ensure I was connected to my culture to maintain that part of my identity while living in a space that was not the Philippines - I can understand that. But ultimately, the freedom for me to develop my own sense of place attachment to the Philippines was taken away and was instead filled in by second-hand knowledge I received from my surroundings, including my family.

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Oftentimes, this second-hand knowledge wasn’t positive. For instance, my parents would threaten to send my sister and I “back home” as punishment when we misbehaved. Whenever we complained about something, they would tell us to be grateful we weren’t kuwawa, or “poor,” like other children in the Philippines. My parents also told me their stories of hardship and poverty growing up in the Philippines. It was so confusing - being told that Philippines was home, but simultaneously being punished with the idea of the Philippines as home. This wasn’t helped by the fact that the families I saw on television shows were typically white families portrayed to be caring and loving, with parents who were quick to listen to their children. The disparity/contrast was so stark, I began to associate discipline and strictness with being a person of colour and growing up in a loving family with being white.

In my 21 years of life, I have only been to the Philippines once when I was seven years old. It was a very interesting visit - one tainted by the shock of poverty, crowds, and inequality I was seeing, as well as being forced to mingle with family who very much felt like strangers. Even so, it was an opportunity for me to meet and bond with my cousins, whom I had never met before that point, and learn about the places my parents grew up.

Regardless, I was treated differently by family and acquaintances because I did not know how to speak

my identity, I am an outsider, the “other” and the person that does not belong, solely by virtue of my appearance.

Maybe someone wants to argue that it is okay to be curious and to ask about someone else’s identity. To some extent, I agree; it is part of getting to know one another and developing meaningful relationships. In my experience, however, it has always felt like a confrontational situation in which my positionality, identification, and sense of belonging are being challenged by an imaginary “majority”. This does not happen in a vacuum; it is not possible to divorce this questioning from the history of racial discrimination, oppression, and colonialism which has operated (and which continues to operate) within this city.

To appease the curious mind, a safe response I have developed is saying: I was born here but my parents are from the Philippines. This typically results in a resounding, self-validating “Oh I knew it,” or “That makes sense now!” But to me, it is only a reminder of the difference that sets me apart from other people in ways which are not always positive. It sends the message that to some extent, I do not belong.

“But what is home for someone like myself, who is rendered by others as an “outsider” in both the Philippines and in Toronto?”

-Nikki Pagaling

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“Home is where I am comfortable.

Home and the process of homemaking is complex and can definitely be a painful experience. It reminds me that I am not “Canadian/Torontonian” enough to be Canadian/Torontonian, or “Filipino” enough to be Filipino. Ultimately, it undermines my place attachment and sense of belonging. I am sad for my younger self who hated her cultural identity, and I am hurting for my current self because I lack a meaningful connection to my cultural identity. At the same time, I am angry with those who assume identit the authority to question my place in this city. For me, the idea of Toronto as home and the Philippines as homeland has been complicated, challenged, and undermined by feelings of disconnection and out-of-placeness - both of which were produced through hierarchical power structures.

So, what does home mean for the child of an immigrant?

Well for me, home is when my loved ones are with me. Home is where I am comfortable. It no doubt includes the structure in which I live, but it also includes my friend’s house down the street.

It includes the coffee shop on campus where I can leave my belongings and know they will not be stolen. It includes my favourite ramen joint on College, south of Bathurst, and my favourite ice cream shop on the Queensway. Home is both the city in which I live and the place where my loved ones are.

Photo by Charu Sharma

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.”

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photographer

C H A R U SHA RMA The talented, Charu Sharma may be credited for capturing many moments throughout the Trinity Leadership Lab 2019.

Apart from her work with Trinity, the young freelance photographer also has many other projects, including the pieces in this spread.

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brother in the rain charusharma.ca @csharmaphotos

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RE: Leadership Lab

by Alan Richardson

If

we did not see leadership solely as a social phenomenon (a group dynamic between a strong, charismatic individual or party and their community), we would quickly understand that leadership is primarily a creative aspect of our social/emotional natures.

This ‘self-leadership’ is expressed in the numerous internal acts by which we process our life experiences into values and beliefs; through our reflection and assessment, we create meaningful narratives to act as guidelines for activity.

Becoming human and making a life for ourselves is the act of taking on a leadership role in our own lives.

Public forms of leadership are extensions of this ‘self-leadership,’ no matter how distorted or enmeshed in power dynamics these forms have become. Like in our personal lives, a community uses the resources and consciousness available at the time to decide how its members will live together, on what basis will shared guidelines be created for the furtherance of social and environmental development in the community, and which procedures will be used to settle disputes.

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This understanding is especially important in a diverse community.

Despite the diversity of values and beliefs, the proximity and interconnectedness of people meeting needs, sharing common resources, raising families, receiving education, realizing their cultural ambitions, and living together in a community, it will all exert pressure to have shared guidelines for all.

It becomes necessary to return to the basics of leadership in self-leadership to explore the making of new forms of public leadership that are appropriate for a diverse society.

In our Summer Leadership Lab, we put together a group of students from across the GTA of diverse races, backgrounds, skill sets, and academic attainment, and we embark to learn about leadership together; we explore our common surroundings, research our area history, and interview people in leadership roles in the various ‘infrastructures’ that comprise our community. Exercises are also pursued in developing self-leadership, as are discussions of public leadership.

In this intentional community, we explore the possibilities of a new kind of leadership for a diverse society.

“Where the sidewalk ends�

Charu Sharma @csharmaphotos charusharma.ca

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AMZZz Amritpaul Saggu @_amzzz_art_ amritsaggu55.wixsite.com/website

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GOOD MORNING,

morning, good night

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Photos by Charu Sharma, @csharmaphotos

GOOD NIGHT

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CHARU SHARMA @CSHARMAPHOTOS CHARUSHARMA.CA

LIVING THE CHANGE

Ashnaa Narumathan @ashnaamathan Parima Shelat @parima.15

We have always been people who seek ways to give back to the community, and we believe that opportunities such as the Leadership Lab are the perfect way to do so. Throughout this summer, we were able to visit so many amazing places around Toronto, which truly touched our hearts and inspired us to go forth and achieve our goals. Some of the places we have visited include: the Weston King Neighbourhood Centre, the AGO, the Toronto Reference Library, and the Distillery District.

Although thousands of people visit these places, everyone has a different story; we would like to share some of our experiences and the things that really spoke to us.

The Weston King Neighbourhood Centre is one-of-a-kind and has such a welcoming environment. After hearing how much the centre does for people in need (such as providing them with a safe space, fresh food, showers, laundry access, activities, etc.), it made us realize how much we can take for granted in our day-to-day lives. For example, there is an old lady who lives near us that uses a wheelchair. For the past year, we’ve seen her on the bus every single day on our way to school. When we went to the Neighbourhood Centre we saw her there and were shocked - we didn’t expect her to be going all the way there just for food everyday. This made us think about how we complain about things like having the same lunch two days in a row, when we should just be grateful that we have access to so much to begin with. It also motivated us to start a program which can be easily accessible to people in need in their own neighbourhoods.

Moving on, we went to the Art Gallery of Ontario. There we witnessed diverse art and had a fun-filled experience learning about the rich history of different cultures and the stories of thousands of individuals. Art has always been a passion of ours, yet we’ve been afraid to show our work to others or never felt it was worthy of being put up for display. However, after visiting the AGO, we were able to understand that there is no right or wrong to art, and your story is valid.

It was our first time going to the Toronto Reference Library and the Distillery District. This trip made us realize how much our city has to offer and that there are many free resources open to everyone. The library has all sorts of clubs, programs, activities, support services, and other facilities that are absolutely free and open to all age groups. It’ll be the place we go when we want to work on projects, do research, learn a new skill (such as photography, photoshop, etc.), or simply when we just want a space to sit and relax. On the other hand, the Distillery District is a historic place which serves several purposes including shopping, showcasing art/culture, holding festivals, and running events. It is a place for people to go and have fun, as well as experience unique events related to music, art, culture, and more. We were so

amazed by the wonderful work and talents of people around the city of Toronto. We also got to learn so much about the heritage and background of the place we call home.

We are extremely grateful for such an amazing summer with a dedicated group of youth who are willing to join hands and make a change. We believe it isn’t enough to just preach change; we must live the change to see it in the world. Hence, we look forward to taking our experiences a step further and making a difference in our society. We are the future, and thus, we take upon the role of uplifting our community and uniting as one.

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Muhammad Farooqui It can be a daunting task to navigate life in this day and age, especially if you’re a young person who is transitioning into postsecondary school. There are two books that have been a staple for me and have helped me find my way back to equilibrium: 1. The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in life and business by Charles Duhigg and 2.

The subtle art of not giving a F*ck by Mark Manson.

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We are a reflection of our communities, so change is rather impossible without understanding ourselves first. We create a reputation for our communities, and it is up to us whether we make it positive or negative. With the guidance of organizations, we can help everyone in the community by making a fundamental difference and growing together.�

Ashnaa Narumathan @ashnaamathan

FAR FROM HOME BRYAN FELIPE OROBIO REINA @FELIPEREINA20

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“IN THE END, PEOPLE CONNECT TO YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE, NOT FOR WHAT YOU HAVE OR WHAT YOU APPEAR TO BE.” MY NAME IS BRYAN FELIPE OROBIO REINA. I AM 20 YEARS OLD, AND I WAS BORN IN COLOMBIA, WHERE I WAS STUDYING INTERNATIONAL FINANCE AND BUSINESS AT A UNIVERSITY. I MOVED TO CANADA ON OCTOBER 3RD, 2018.

WHEN YOU MOVE TO A NEW COUNTRY, THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND YOU MUST INTEGRATE. LONELINESS ALWAYS ACCOMPANIES YOU AT FIRST, EVEN IF YOU HAVE YOUR FAMILY AND A FEW FRIENDS NEXT TO YOU. OFTEN, YOU HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE AND YOU LOSE YOUR MOTIVATION. THOUGHTS OF RETURNING HOME ALSO COME TO MIND, BUT YOU REALIZE THAT IF YOU SIT AROUND NOT DOING ANYTHING, DROWNING IN LONELINESS, YOU WILL NOT ACHIEVE ANYTHING. YOU LEARN THAT YOU MUST MAKE THE DECISION TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR THE "WORLD" - LEAVING YOUR GRIEF BEHIND AND BREAKING THE BARRIERS THAT HAVE "WORL LOCKED YOU UP IN YOUR ROOM IN A COUNTRY WHERE LANGUAGE IS A BIG BARRIER. THINKING ABOUT MY FUTURE PUSHES ME TO MOVE FORWARD EACH DAY. I FOUND SUPPORT IN AN ESL SCHOOL WHERE I WAS LEARNING ENGLISH. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE DIFFERENT FROM ME, ALL OF MY PEERS ENCOURAGED ME, AND WE CREATED A COMMUNITY AT THE SCHOOL. ADDITIONALLY, MY TEACHER, CHRISTOPHER, MENTORED MY TRANSITION TO AN ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY. HE GAVE ME TIPS ABOUT SCHOOL, BANKS, AND EVERYTHING I NEEDED FOR MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IN CANADA. WORKING AT TRINITY GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE MY ENGLISH AND KEEP GOING. THE TRICK TO ADAPTING TO A COUNTRY WHICH IS NOT YOURS, AND BEING AROUND PEOPLE WHO DO NOT SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE, IS SIMPLY TRYING TO GET INVOLVED AND BEING YOUR TRUEST SELF. IN THE END, PEOPLE CONNECT TO YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE, NOT FOR WHAT YOU HAVE OR WHAT YOU APPEAR TO BE. I WANT TO BE A PERSON IN SOCIETY WHO IS NOT KNOWN FOR MONEY OR FAME, BUT RATHER, KNOWN AS SOMEONE WHO HELPS OTHERS. I WOULD LIKE TO HELP NEWCOMERS LIKE ME, SO THEIR TRANSITION CAN BE EASIER THAN MINE. TRANSITIONING INTO A NEW COUNTRY IS VERY HARD - THE FIRST MONTH IS THE TOUGHEST BECAUSE THERE IS A LANGUAGE BARRIER AND YOU FEEL ISOLATED. I HOPE TO HELP EASE THIS TRANSITION FOR OTHERS.

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WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND A COUNTRY’S LANGUAGE, THE HARDEST THING TO DO IS MAKE FRIENDS. WHEN I CAME HERE, I HAD TO DO EVERYTHING WITH MY FATHER BECAUSE I DIDN’T SPEAK ENGLISH. FOR 3 MONTHS, EVERYTHING I DID WENT ACCORDING TO HIS SCHEDULE, AND HE ACCOMPANIED ME EVERYWHERE. THE PROBLEM WITH NOT KNOWING THE LANGUAGE IS THAT EVEN OUTGOING PEOPLE BECOME SHY BECAUSE TH THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES; THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS LEARNING ENGLISH. ONCE I LEARNED ENGLISH, I STARTED TO UNDERSTAND MORE OF WHAT PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME, AND THEY COULD UNDERSTAND ME. THIS ALLOWED ME TO MAKE MORE FRIENDS.

“THE PROBLEM WITH NOT KNOWING THE LANGUAGE IS THAT EVEN OUTGOING PEOPLE BECOME SHY BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES”

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ANOTHER THING THAT IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND A COUNTRY’S LANGUAGE IS FINDING A JOB. IN CANADA, NO ONE WILL HIRE YOU IF YOU DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH. FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM PARENTS OR FAMILY MEMBERS, IT IS VERY HARD FOR THEM TO FIND A JOB TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES. SOME PEOPLE HAD HIGHER EDUCATION AND SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN THEIR EDUC COUNTRIES, BUT END UP IN LOW-QUALITY JOBS IN CANADA JUST BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE. WE CAN HELP NEWCOMERS WHO ARE JUST LEARNING ENGLISH BY MAKING THEM FEEL INCLUDED AND SUPPORTED. THIS MEANS GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES EVEN IF IT IS HARD FOR THEM TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY ARE THINKING, AND IT IS HELPFUL TO ENCOURAGE THESE PEOPLE TO KEEP TRYING. MY PERSONALITY HELPS ME FEEL COMFORTABLE BEING MYSELF. I AM WHO I AM, AND I’M PROUD OF MYSELF REGARDLESS OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ME. I OFFER THE WORLD COMPASSION BECAUSE I HAVE LOVE IN MY HEART FOR EVERYONE. I LOVE ENCOURAGING OTHER NEWCOMERS TO KEEP TRYING TO BE INDEPENDENT AND TO IMPROVE THEIR ENGLISH SKILLS. WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING IN LIFE, YOU HAVE TO TRY TO ACHIEVE IT. IF YOU DON’T TRY, YOU WILL NEVER ACHIEVE ANYTHING. SO, JUST KEEP TRYING!

“I OFFER THE WORLD COMPASSION BECAUSE I HAVE LOVE IN MY HEART FOR EVERYONE.” PAINTING BY REBECCA MCLAREN | @BABYGOTBECS MCLARENREBECCA.WIXSITE.COM/PORTFOLIO

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Youth unemployment is a prominent issue in Scarborough, especially in our home neighbourhood of Malvern. Young people in the community have experienced a lot of difficulty entering the job market and found that the resources available are not very accessible. For instance, Youth Employment Services (YES) facilitates workshops within Scarborough public high schools. However, there is a lack of continued engagement and outreach to promote the services YES offers youth. As a result, young people such as ourselves remain unaware of services such as resume building, interview skill development, and other professional development opportunities in the area.

To tackle the issue of youth underemployment and public service outreach, the Malvern team is proposing to develop a club called “The Student Professional Development Club” (SPD) within our high school, Lester B. Pearson Collegiate Institute (LBPCI).

MAL VERN PRO JECT

SPD will strive to increase youth employment and volunteer engagement throughout the Malvern community in ways which are for the youth, by the youth.

Members of SPD will have the opportunity to develop their professional skill set with the support and assistance of existing community organizations, such as TAIBU, UNITY, The SPOT, Malvern Recreation Center, and the Malvern Family Resource Centre.

Our club will allow students to develop the skills necessary for today’s job market by hosting mock interviews, workshops on resume building, and financial literacy.

Hosting workshops within LBPCI will also foster intergenerational relationships amongst the student population, the teachers, and the surrounding community organizations.

To further the professional development of club members, SPD will host an end-ofsemester job fair for students of LBPCI. Organizations, businesses, and community leaders will be invited to attend and share both paid and volunteer opportunities with students. Here, members will have the opportunity to utilize the skills they developed during the school year to acquire employment/volunteer opportunities at organizations which interest them.

Ultimately, the club will strive to make professional development accessible and appealing to young people in Malvern.

Credits to Nikki Mary Pagaling Aretina Chan Anusha Kathiravel Fizah Patwa Nilani Nallathamby Amrit Saggu

@amzzz_art amritsaggu55.wix site.com/website

A M R I T P A U L S A G G U

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RaďŹ ca Rahman @_ms.imperfect_ Ambuj Chananna Nancy Awadallah Justin Li @justin_li_141 Bryan Orobio @felipereina20 Lurdes Pedro @ursinho-polar

TEAM GREENWOOD The neighbourhood of Greenwood-Coxwell is a part of the Toronto-Danforth constituency.

The area is home to a wide variety of cultures which creates a vibrant and welcoming space for new immigrants and Canadians alike. Greenwood Avenue was originally called Greenwood’s Lane, named after local resident and owner of the Greenwood hotel: Mr. Greenwood, in the late 1800s.

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Greenwood has been home to important sources of entertainment in the city. The Greenwood Raceway originally opened as the Woodbine Race Course in 1874 by the shore of Lake Ontario in the Eastern part of the city.1 It brought people together as families joined to watch the horses race regularly. In 1947, the organization wanted to expand horse racing in Toronto and decided to build the New Woodbine Raceway in Rexdale, which became another neighbourhood explored by Trinity Theatre’s Summer Leadership Lab. The New Woodbine Raceway opened in 1956, providing a new, modernized space for horse racing.1 In 1963, the Old Woodbine (Woodbine Race Course) was renovated and re-named Greenwood Raceway; it operated until its closing in 1993.1 After the raceway was shut down, half of the property was turned into Woodbine Park, while the rest was repurposed for commercial and residential buildings.1 In 1997, the Greenwood Teletheatre was opened as an off-site destination for patrons to place bets on horse races.1 The teletheatre still operates today, serving as a reminder of the history of Greenwood Raceway for the community.

Another important entertainment hub in the neighbourhood was Allenby Theatre. This movie theatre was built in 1935 by the architectural firm Kaplan and Sprachman, who designed 75% of theatres constructed in Canada between 1921 and 1950.2 The theatre served to represent the Art Deco-style architecture which was popular between the two world wars.

It was a hub for residents to get together and screen the movies of the time. Unfortunately, the theatre could not keep up with the eventual popularity of television in homes and it was shut down in 2006.2 Shortly after, it re-opened as the Apollo Theatre to screen Greek films (due to its close proximity to Greektown), but this was also unsuccessful.2 In 2007, the facade of the building was declared a heritage site under Section 7 of the Ontario Heritage Act.2 The box office and canopy were preserved, while the interior of the building was repurposed to house a Tim Hortons and an On the Run convenience store. The rest of the building was demolished to build an Esso Gas station. This site is only steps away from Greenwood Subway station.

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Today, the community hosts one of the most important hubs for newcomers — Greenwood Secondary School.

This school serves solely newcomer high school students, helping them develop proficiency in their English skills through a specialized ESL program. This is helpful for students who are new to the country, and it is a powerful tool to help them integrate into Canadian society.

Greenwood has an interesting array of green spaces, including Greenwood Park and the TTC-Oakvale Green Space (which is home to the community garden of the area).

The neighbourhood is also home to many cultures, housing Greektown, Little India, and many East African shops. The Greenwood-Coxwell neighbourhood has a lot to offer, and a trip there will not leave anyone disappointed.

The Greenwood Team was extremely fortunate to meet with the local politicians of Toronto-Danforth. We asked them about issues in their constituency and about youth-engagement opportunities. Paula Fletcher was elected to City Council for the former Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth in 2003, and she was re-elected in 2018 as the City Councillor for the new Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth. After hearing about our work and projects, Fletcher gave us some suggestions for how we can improve: “My advice to you is this: expand into other schools in the community.

Greenwood Secondary School is a great starting point, but it is extremely important that you expand your project to other schools like Monarch Park, Riverdale, and Danforth. Hook up the student body at Greenwood with other student bodies. Build bridges and connect with current student activists at those schools to improve and expand your projects.”

PAULA FLETCHER • COUNCILLOR WARD 14 • TORONTO DANFORTH

Peter Tabuns is the constituency’s Member of Provincial Parliament. He was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2018. He is also the Official Opposition’s spokesperson on energy and climate issues. He continues to bring new ideas to Queen’s Park to create jobs while fighting climate change, keep people safe from toxins, make housing more affordable, fund public transit, and integrate new Canadians into our society.

Julie Dabrusin is Toronto-Danforth’s Member of Parliament. She was elected as the Liberal Party candidate for the 2015 federal election, running her platform primarily on concerns for income inequality and the government’s neglect of Canada’s urban areas. Julie has served on the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying and is currently the chair of the Heritage Committee, where she advocates for those working within Canada’s creative and cultural industries. She is also a member of the Public Safety Committee and is a founding member of the All-Party Bike Caucus. Here are Peter’s and Julie’s answers to some of our questions: What are some of the issues in this community?

Peter: “There is a lack of affordable housing in this constituency. I work with tenants who are at risk of eviction. These tenants are under a lot of pressure from developers and landlords to drive up rent to a level people cannot afford. I connect people to local legal clinics to educate them on their rights. Tenants who are not at risk of eviction recently put together a package on how to fight rent increases that are too high to be legal; wages are not going up or are going below the rate of inflation, and rent is going up 2-5%. Another issue this community faces, especially in the Cosburn-Pape area, is that youth have absolutely nothing to do. The Bethany Baptist Church has taken the initiative to create a summer camp called You Only Live Once (YOLO). They run a food bank and recreational programs through the winter months to ensure our youth are productive and healthy while giving back to the community. In terms of recent cuts to OSAP, I go door-to-door with petitions and flyers to get people to stand up to these cuts. There needs to be bigger shifts at the provincial level to change the law and our budgets. It is critical that youth are politically engaged, because their future will be determined on October 21.”

Julie: “Food policy is one of the projects that is close to my heart. One of the things I’ve been trying to push for is a universal school food program. In our last budget, there was a commitment to negotiate with provinces on school food programs, and that is really exciting. I agree that affordability and housing in Toronto is a big issue. Climate change is one of the top issues, if not the top issue. It hits everything else because it impacts affordability and quality of life. It is an overarching theme that ties into everything we do. Another part is job creation - how do we make sure people have equal access to opportunities?”

What do you like about this community?

Peter: “I like the community cohesion. The residents are politically aware and active, and there is an interweaving of different groups of people, cultures, and religions.

People come together and you could see that at the anniversary of the Danforth shooting. We are not perfect, but we are pretty good.”

Julie: “I feel like we’re a small town in a big city. There’s a lot of people who are working hard within the community to help other people. People think because we are in a big city, we don’t know each other. But in this area, a lot of people do know each other and they are continuously trying to build connections. The residents are really engaged and they feel really passionate about issues - they are paying attention.”

What do you dislike about the community?

Peter: “I don’t like the income inequality and the lack of housing and services. I don’t like the lack of support when I know the money is there. This is a wealthy country, and Toronto is a wealthy city. There is no reason anyone should be worried about whether or not they can pay their rent. This community used to have a high percentage of newcomers. But as it became more expensive to live here, it became a problem, and they started leaving the place to find communities that do offer multiple affordable housing options.”

Julie: “I cycle almost everywhere I go, so it is really exciting to see the bike lane pilot project coming to the Danforth. I think youth getting engaged in pedestrian and cyclist safety is something that is very tangible. If we’re talking about food issues, I don’t know if cities do a great job anymore in knowing what our food is, where it comes from, and how to make it affordable. It has a huge impact on health and affordability. For youth, it is important to get involved in food programs to learn about food and food affordability. Maybe we could even host community meals and discuss these issues with its residents.”

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If you were given a large sum of money, what is the first thing you would do to better the community?

Peter: “I would focus on building housing and create a shift towards energy efficiency. The planet is on fire and if we don’t do anything to address this global issue there will be nothing left.”

Julie: “I think I would reach out to one of my communities that is experiencing more gun violence and talk with them about where they think the funds would go best. What would be the group that requires more strengthening? Is it mental health services, some kind of food services? I want them to help me create more opportunities, and from there we would create a sort of advisory to help me divvy the money up.”

How would you describe the community to a newcomer?

Peter: “This community is really walkable and accessible. Everything is within walking distance, with a maximum of 20-30 minutes. It’s also very convenient in terms of transportation. The subway is right there, and we’re surrounded by multiple streetcar lines. It’s physically attractive: we have the Lake to the south, the Don Valley is nearby, and there are many attractive houses and nice parks.”

Julie: “I think our community is a great springboard to discover the rest of the city.

It is very accessible and has a lot of diversity within the city. It is a great place to explore yourself and your hobbies. You can meet lots of people by getting involved in different community groups and through volunteer opportunities.”

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Connecting with community residents provides them with emotional support and a mentor who can help guide them through their transition.” “

_____________________ As the neighbourhood is home to Greenwood Secondary School, it attracts newcomers from across the city. It is extremely important for Canadian residents to help new Canadians as they leave everything familiar behind by coming to Canada. It is a big transition: they must become accustomed to a new language and culture.

Collaboration and human connection are innate to humans; human beings depend on conversation and connection for their development. So when someone is new to a country where the language and lifestyle is unfamiliar, human connection becomes difficult.

Our summer students from Greenwood Secondary School: Justin Li, Bryan Orobio, Lurdes Pedro, and Rafica Rahman are all newcomers to the country. They provided their insight on how Canadians can help people like them with their transition.

Our students said that as new immigrants, people do not know how the country works in terms of education, jobs, politics, culture, and society. They believe communication and connection with Canadian residents can provide them with the information they need. Not only that, but these connections can help new immigrants feel supported, especially when they may not have many friends or family members here with them. They may feel lonely suddenly having a smaller or no support system in a brand new country. Connecting with community residents provides them with emotional support and a mentor who can help guide them through their transition. Mentors can help them get involved in the community by introducing them to community hubs where they can network with people and build a support system. The students also said Canadians can help newcomers with their English pronunciation by being open to conversation and answering questions in a respectful and helpful manner.

Finally, the students said workshops on housing, taxes, education, etc. are extremely beneďŹ cial in giving new Canadians an idea of how to live in Canada.

References 57 https://www.beachmetro.com/2012/02/22/greenwood-avenues-history-bricks/ https://tayloronhistory.com/2014/01/30/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-allenby-roxy-apollo-on-the-danforth/

“Working with Trinity was like a long but fulfilling commute through Toronto; while there were some bumps along the road (like almost missing your bus a few times!), you met determined people along the way and still arrived at your destination. Afterwards, when you look back at your journey and all you've accomplished during it, you can’t help but feel a change both in the communities you passed on the way and within yourself and those you travelled with - kind of like a trinity of change.”

Michael Olarewaju 58

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“

I don't really know where home is. Is it the place I grew up? The place on my passport? The place where I live now? It's all a mystery to me. I come from a war-torn country, Palestine. So to me, the word 'home' is very, very complicated. I wanted my piece about 'home' to be ironic, and what better wa to create irony than by using cheesy quotes way from Shutterfly? I paired over-used, cliché quotes with pictures of my young, pissed-off self. My true feelings towards each quote are depicted at the bottom of each page by the re-written quote and accompanying tag.

”

Deema Abu Naser @deemalovesdrama

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I SCREAM, ILLUSTRATION (LEFT) IT’S ME, POEM (RIGHT) REBECCA MCLAREN | @BABYGOTBECS MCLARENREBECCA.WIXSITE.COM/PORTFOLIO

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THEY ASKED ME WHO MY LEADER WAS. I WANTED TO SAY, “IT’S ME!” FOR I LISTEN TO MYSELF AND DO WHAT I MUST; SHOWING PERSEVERANCE AND COURAGE AND IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. THEY ASKED ME WHO MY ROLE MODEL WAS. I WANTED TO SHOUT, “IT’S ME!” FOR I’VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE SMALL VICTORIES I’VE WON; THE HOPE I’VE HELD ON TO AND LIFE WASN’T ALWAYS EASY. THEY ASKED ME WHO I ADMIRED MOST. I WANTED TO YELL, “IT’S ME!” FOR I WOULD GIVE THE WORLD FOR THE PEOPLE I LOVE; HELP PEOPLE I’VE NEVER MET AND DO IT ALL AGAIN, HAPPILY. THEY ASKED ME WHO I LOOKED UP TO. I WANTED TO SCREAM, “IT’S ME!” FOR I REFUSE TO GIVE UP WHEN THINGS AREN’T RIGHT. I USE MY TALENTS FOR GOOD AND THERE’S NO ONE ELSE I’D RATHER BE. THEY ASKED ME WHO WAS THERE. I WANTED TO CRY, “IT’S ME!” MY LEADER; MY ROLE MODEL; MY PERSON TO ADMIRE; MY PERSON TO LOOK UP TO. I’M HERE. IT’S I. IT’S ME.

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

City-Wide

Peer Mentor for At-Risk Youth Youth Assisting Youth youthassistingyouth.com mail@yay.org

Arts Club Volunteer Albion Boys and Girls Club albionneighbourhoodservices.ca 416-740-3704

Spiritual Care Volunteer West Park Healthcare Centre westpark.org/en westpark.org volunteerservices@westpark.org

Breakfast Club Volunteer Albion Boys and Girls Club albionneighbourhoodservices.ca (416) 740-3704 Girls Club Volunteer Albion Boys and Girls Club albionneighbourhoodservices.ca 416-740-3704

Gift Shop Volunteer St. Joseph’s Health Centre stjoestoronto.ca volunteers@stjoestoronto.ca

Tour Guide Textile Museum of Canada textilemuseum.ca info@textilemuseum.ca Youth Cabinet Member Toronto Youth Cabinet thetyc.ca info@thetyc.ca

KidCoach Future Possibilities for Kids fpcanada.org info@fpcanada.org

Rexdale

Learning to Read (LTR) Volunteer Toronto Public Library torontopubliclibrary.ca LTRwest@torontopubliclibrary.ca

Adult & Youth Volunteer Corps Toronto Police – 23 Division torontopolice.on.ca/d23 416-808-2300

English Conversation Mentor North York Community House nych.ca mmckoy@nych.ca Food Bank Volunteer Red Door Family Shelter reddoorshelter.ca reddoorshelte volunteer@reddoorshelter.ca

Nursing Practitioner Rexdale Community Health Centre rexdalechc.com info@rexdalechc.com Office Volunteer CANES Community Care canes.on.ca information@canes.on.ca Outreach Program Volunteer Rexdale Women’s Centre rexdalewomen.org mmazhar@rexdalewomen.org

Social Worker Assistant Rexdale Community Health Centre rexdalechc.com info@rexdalechc.com Vet Assistant Kipling Animal Hospital kiplinganimalhospital.com kiplinganimalhospital@outlook.com Volunteer Art Teacher Franklin Carmichael Art Group fcag.ca fcag.art@gmail.com

Visitor to the Elderly WoodGreen Community Services woodgreen.org volunteer@woodgreen.org

Weston Bingo Helper York West Active Living Center ywalc.ca info@ywalc.ca

Malvern Assistant Basketball Coach Malvern Family Resource Centre mfrc.org 416-284-4184 Building Volunteer Habitat for Humanity habitatgta.ca habitat@habitat.ca Club Initiative/Trip Organizer TAIBU Community Health Centre taibuchc.ca info@taibuchc.ca

Greenwood

Cook Weston King Neighbourhood Centre wknc.ca (416) 241-9898

Art School Volunteer LucSculpture lucsculpture.com lucsculpture@gmail.com

Event Promoter Shakespeare in Action shakespeareinaction.org 416-703-4881

Bingo Caller Applegrove Community Complex applegrovecc.ca applegr applegrove@applegrovecc.ca

Event Volunteer Weston Village BIA westonvillagebia.com admin@westonvillagebia.com

Canvasser Peter Tabun’s Constituency Office petertabuns.ca tabunsp-co@ndp.on.ca

Frontburners Cooking Training Frontlines frontlines.to info@frontlines.to

Christmas Gift Volunteer Society of Sharing societyofsharing.org info@societyofsharing.org

Leaders in Training Frontlines frontlines.to info@frontlines.to

Community Outreach Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Centre riwc.ca reception.riwc@gmail.com

Office Assistant York West Active Living Center ywalc.ca info@ywalc.ca

Front Lobby Greeter Toronto Humane Society torontohumanesociety.com volunteer@torontohumanesociety.com

Program Maintenance Weston Neighbourhood Center wknc.ca 416-241-9898

Publicity/Marketing Volunteer World Animal Protection Canada worldanimalprotection.ca info@worldanimalprotection.ca

Special Events Assistant York West Active Living Center ywalc.ca info@ywalc.ca

Reading Club Volunteer Eastview Neighbourhood Centre eastviewcentre.com fionadevine@eastviewcentre.com

Teen Advisory Board Member Toronto Weston Library torontopubliclibrary.ca/weston westaff@torontopubliclibrary.ca

Tutor Working Women Community Centre workingwomencc.org admin@workingwomencc.org

For more, visit our website! 71

Event Planner Chinese Cultural Centre of Toronto cccgt.org/index.php/en/uscontact Event Planner Toronto Arts Council torontoartscouncil.org michelle@torontoartscouncil.org Marketing Volunteer Muslim Welfare Centre muslimwelfarecentre.com muslim@muslimwelfarecentre.com Kindergarten Camp Volunteer Malvern Family Resource Centre mfrc.org 416-284-4184 Shelter Assistant Julliette’s Place julliettesplace.org info@julliettesplace.org Skate & BMX Park Assistant Malvern Family Resource Centre mfrc.org 416-284-4184 Translator Wigwamen Incorporated wigwamen.com jobs@wigwamen.com Victim Service Volunteer Toronto Police – 42 Division torontopolice.on.ca/d42 torontopolice.on.ca Volunteer Visitor Extendicare Rouge Valley extendicarerougevalley.com info@extendicare.com

3D Modeling

MY LOCAL LIBRARY

Matt De Melo @mellow.jpeg demelomj.github.io

An exploration of appreciating the little ways a million parts come together into a whole.

Modeling this building was a captivating undertaking.

Richview Library has always been one of my favourite places. Quiet, well-lit, and ďŹ lled with books.

What more could you ask for?

It has been a place to be alone, a place to meet people, cool respite from the heat, a warm room in a blizzard, a spot for last-minute essay printing and a comfy corner for lazy days spent buried in a novel.

Located next to a big park, it represents a central point of connection in my community.

Whether that means connecting to others, to my neighbourhood, to the world of books or just connecting to myself, it stands as a landmark representing what I value in a community.

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At ďŹ rst, I was entirely focused on the main aspects of the building as I knew it - the places that faced my bus stop, the prominent shapes and colours, and the windows that loom over the sidewalk.

As I pushed forward, I started to ďŹ nd myself caught up in the minutiae - the height of a garbage bin, the clarity of a handicap door push button, the lighting of an access ramp - and began to appreciate just how much care and expertise goes into making a functional and accessible building.

Each hour spent on the small details added to my appreciation. Having used maps, satellite imagery, and promotional images to construct this model, I learned how valuable it is to spend time exploring the tiny details that pass me by each day.

Ultimately I feel even closer to this building than before I started this project.

REC

BEHIND BEHIND THE THE SCENES SCENES To start, I focused on mapping out the building with Maps, Streetview, and Google Earth. I visited the building in-person a couple times to get an intuitive feel for it. Then, I placed blocks in Cinema4D over the map blueprint of the building to get its proportions to be similar.

The next step was to choose the colours I would use to represent the building. I opted for a colour palette that would complement a “dusk” time of day, because it is my favourite time to visit the library and itsadjacent park. As a result, the colours worked well in a darker, redder lighting arrangement.

Finally, I put together the fine details. I wanted to emphasize its accessibility and its integration with greenery, so opted for angles that showcased its access points and greenery at the forefront.

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“Hi! My name is Francine and this is my first year working with Trinity Theatre’s Summer Leadership Lab. While working with Trinity Theatre, I learned more about Toronto’s history and visited both historical sites and important monuments. Learning about the history of Toronto really showed me there’s a lot of heritage in this city, but people rarely talk about it. It also opened my eyes to how Toronto’s history transformed it into the city it is today. While working with Trinity, I learned to focus more on communities and what operates within communities. A community is not only a space - it has a lot more meaning to the people who live there.”

Francine Byron

@_itsfrannyyyy__

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The World Hello! My name is Justin, and I would love to tell you a bit about when I was little.

I was born and lived most of my life in Venezuela: the most wonderful place I’ve been. When I was little, I was like any other kid in school. But I noticed the faces of my friends did not look the same as mine, and I wondered why that was. They called me Chinese, and said they were not the same as me. There were always differences between us. They called themselves Venezuelans, and they called me Chinese. I didn’t know why.

I’m starting to not think about it as much anymore because I’m maturing and beginning to understand things. I knew that Asian families were excluded, and it struck me that this would happen to me no matter where I was.

Something shocking happened when I was supposed to enter high school. I went to find different schools, and I could not find a place. My only option was to enter a school with military service.

At first I did not receive the respect I deserved, but I studied hard and was eventually more accepted. The school had never had an Asian student before. Not all students respected me, but I cared more about making an impact than being respected. I knew no matter how much I tried to be the same, they would always see me as different.

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When I arrived in Canada, I had the opportunity to enroll in some English courses with classmates of the same origins as me. I felt some differences between myself and them, but the differences were not negative.

Instead, I found comfort in being around people of the same origins as me. I felt important and included. Thanks to the education and diversity of people in Canada, I feel comfortable being myself right now.

Against Me Trinity Theatre offers a very welcoming and comforting environment, which reminds me of home. Working with Trinity has given me the opportunity to learn about and be immersed in Canadian culture. Trinity supports me and doesn’t discriminate against me, and for that, I am grateful.

Trinity has taught me about Toronto’s history and has given me the opportunity to visit important places, such as Fort York, Mackenzie House, St. Lawrence Market, and the Old Post Office.

I feel very happy to attend Greenwood Secondary School because it is for newcomer students, and I feel like I truly belong. The teachers are friendly and help me improve my English. I enjoy Canadian culture, and I like how everything is so organized. It is very different from Venezuelan culture.

Being in Canada has taught me more discipline.

Now I am more open and accepting of all the cultures that make Canada my new home.

@justin_li_141

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THE

COMMUNITY GALAXY

featuring the aliens of outreach

THE COMMUNITY GALAXY While exploring Weston, our team discovered both positive and negative aspects of the community. Many people and organizations are working tirelessly to make positive changes in order to tackle these challenges. We believe change starts with us. Two issues that really spoke to us are the lack of youth engagement in Weston and the divide between different groups within the community.

We created V.O.I.C.E (Volunteering Out in Community Everyday) with the belief that “If you see a need, take the lead”; its mission is to eliminate obstacles and bridge the gap in the community by connecting people to available opportunities for engagement. Our art exemplifies this, with our students playing the role of the spaceship flying through the “Community Galaxy”. In the piece, pairs of colored dots are separated and need help finding each other in the vast and busy “space” of the community. In fact, the dots - and thus our community members - are not aware of how they can get in contact with one another. The “Aliens of Outreach” represents V.O.I.C.E.’s mission to connect organizations in need of volunteers to those who can help build up their efforts and initiatives. We find that there are a variety of opportunities and resources available in the Weston community, but not everyone is aware of them or how to get involved.

"After looking deeper into Weston and talking together as a group about our individual experiences, we found there was a lack of youth engagement and somewhat of a divide in the community. We say this because there have been so many friends, parents, and peers of ours who have complained about not having opportunities to get their volunteer hours and how nothing suits their interests.

This pushed us to find ways for youth to get out there and more involved. So, we went around our community and found lots of fun things for youth to help out with; we hope to bridge the gap by connecting youth to these opportunities!

When it comes to divide in the community, we tend to see students separated into their own groups in classrooms, and sometimes, there’s minimal communication between the different groups. However, it’s not a huge issue since we believe team-building activities can bring our community together as one. We look forward to the coming year and turning our dreams into realities! We must be the change we wish to see in the world. As youth, we have a responsibility to make this an equal place for all!" - Parima Shelat

CREDITS

TEAM WESTON Ashley Persaud @zaud.s (graphic and writing) Sinthujah Gunas @xxsinthujah Daniella Boateng @danxellaa Francine Byron @_itsfrannyyyy__ Ashnaa Narumathan @ashnaamathan Parima Shelat @parima.15 (quote)

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POST

CARD

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CHANTELLE IN

NG

@XUANTELLE

Z O E T I C

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IDENTITY Ashnaa Narumathan @ashnaamathan Parima Shelat @parima.15

COLLECTION OF POEMS a summer of fun communities being more This is Trinity Trees laugh with the breeze Subtle snow drifts onto homes Toronto's fall comes

Toronto to the world is like a polar bear to the wild; it is a quiet and capable force, yet still humble enough to hold a spotlight for the fauna above large bodies of water.

MICHAEL OLAREWAJU

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WOODBINE:

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Mohit Sharma @14companions

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A venture down Rexdale Boulevard doesn’t seem particularly exciting; it’s mostly a bunch of factories and small businesses. When you cross Highway 27, you’ll wonder why it’s called a highway. You’ll think the mall that sits at the intersection looks like any other dead-end mall.

But, being around for 26 of the 34 years the mall has existed, I know there is much more to it than meets the eye.

Opening in 1985, Woodbine Mall was built on the prominent Queens plate as not only to the first mall of its kind in the community, but also the first of its kind in Ontario. A mall is like a ship in the sea and it requires anchors to hold it down. Upon opening, Woodbine had three anchors: The Bay, Sears, and Zellers. For a mall of its size, these three anchors were more than enough to steady the ship. But they were all deceived because the mall had a secret anchor hidden up its portside: a fully equipped indoor theme park. Loaded with a ferris wheel, a train ride, a classic 1911 style Loof Carousel, and bumper cars, this mall offered the best deal for a family who couldn’t travel to Canada’s Wonderland or Center Island Park. Also able to provide shopping deals, the mall was an 80s dream haven.

As the 80s and 90s passed, the emergence of the internet introduced both a blessing and a curse.

With the new medium in the hands of a rising generation, the early 2000s saw a slow but steady increase in online shopping. However, in the 2010s, this equated to the large-scale death of the department store. It was like a sad mini story; the department store that was once your one-stop-shop if you needed a TV, power drill, or a matching shirt for that toaster you “really needed” was now all available online, and the pushy salesmen were replaced by helpful customer reviews instead.

Competitive malls like Sherway and Yorkdale made the choice to overhaul their look and build their malls for the new generation of shoppers. Meanwhile, Woodbine stuck to its roots of being the “family mall.” Although it makes some sense, there’s a glaring fact they overlooked: the new generation is not as family-orientated (for a variety of reasons that could constitute an entire essay of its own). Since Woodbine decided to remain the “family mall,” it has remained stuck in a sort of time freeze - or at least until they recently started modernizing the flooring, but I digress.

“Walking through, you can’t help but feel joy - the inner child in you will scream that this is the place you need to be.”

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This time freeze became very evident to me when I played my favourite game: “take someone to Woodbine who has never been before and watch their reaction” (a working title). I played this game recently with two of my good friends: April and Mary, both who grew up outside of Toronto and had never even heard of Woodbine until they met me.

April thought the mall had a 90s vibe to it, and she thought the park really stuck out. Mary only had a brief interaction, which can be broken down by her journey from the entrance to the shops: after entering, Mary questioned why a mall would have a ferris wheel at its entrance, but after a quick trip up the escalator, a child-like smile lit up her face as she looked around at the park. Mary’s excitement was continuous; she kept looking back at the theme park even while we walked to our main destination store. She said she kept looking back because while the shopping part resembled any other mall, the amusement park, the Fantasy Fair, is a site to witness. Walking through, you can’t help but feel joy - the inner child in you will scream that this is the place you need to be.

Furthermore, the mall also houses one of the most unique stores I have come across, one I have yet to find anywhere else in this world. Its owner describes Clocks Unlimited, the oldest store in Woodbine, as a store and a Museum gallery of the clocks it houses. Located in the mall for 33 years, the owner and operator of Clocks Unlimited designed the store to be intriguing: something to attract the attention of curious minds as they walked by. Here, you can find Grandfather clocks which range in size from average to how-am-I-going-to-fit-that-through-my-door.

The shop’s hand-crafted German Cuckoo clocks range from do-I-want-sound to do-I-want-sound-and-a-show.

Whenever he sells a clock, he puts a different model in its place - every piece is unique. Although today’s generation checks the time using their phones, there are people who still want a quality-crafted work of art and are willing to track down a shop hidden in a mall with a theme park. The owner says he has buyers from across Canada and the United States.

Woodbine Mall serves its intended purpose: providing a shopping center to the Rexdale, while also providing attractions which attract people from outside the community. Even after the loss of its two biggest anchors, the mall holds steady. And with a revamp of the surrounding area, people have high hopes for the new shops the mall will incorporate and the new community the mall will cater to.

There is a lot more to Woodbine Mall than what you see. It’s a mall full of memories and a mall that brings out our inner-child. Most importantly - it’s a mall with history.

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