My Community, My Home
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Stories Unfolding MY COMMUNITY, MY HOME Alexandra Park Neighbourhood Learning Centre 707 Dundas Street West Toronto, Ontario M5T 2W6 Coordinated by Tel. (416) 591-7384 Fax: (416) 591-3569 [email protected] www.apnlc.org Alexandra Park Neighbourhood Learning Centre Issue 5 June 2013 50 MESSAGES FROM MY FORWARD There are six million lives being lived in the GTA right this moment. There is the person sitting COMMUNITY quietly next to you, the shuffling neighbour downstairs (that you never see, but hear), the courteous and tired shopkeeper locking the door around the corner and the doe-eyed young loves across the street. This is the place living happens. In class, we talk a lot about definition, meaning and spelling—but community isn’t meant to be defined, community is meant to be experienced! In this eye-opening collection of learner reflections, you will read about the joy of relationship, the dependability of local business and the ever-growing cityscape. You will read about people and friendships that are as rock-solid as the buildings they live in, and, sometimes, as fleeting and cherished as the High Park cherry blossoms. Within these reflections, there are also shared stories of celebrations, challenges and the importance of community and what community means. As we see our stories connect on the same map, we might remember that old adage: big city, small world. The people and places in these reflections remind us that being in community is not always easy. We recognize too the claustrophobic stuffiness of overcrowded streetcars, and the constant pressures of social networking - it’s hardly nice to feel obliged to friendship. We also recognize our peers that huddle alone on city grates in the depth of winter, bad news from back home and even worse Skype connections that leave us feeling empty and worried. We ask you to take these stories as testament to real lives lived. Share this collection with others, pass it on to your friend, leave it on a park bench for some unknown neighbour and remember that each time you share this, you make Toronto, Ontario, Canada a better place. Consider these stirring words from one of the city`s most famous neighbourhood watchers, Jane Jacobs: “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” Ben Szoller Literacy Coordinator Alexandra Park Neighbourhood Learning Centre June 2013 49 CONTENTS Downtown Toronto 1. Feels Like Home by Shahnaz Afghan .................................................................................... Page 1 1. 2. 2. My Community by Ashley Lawrence ....................................................................................... Page 2 3. Where I’m From by Rocell Caruth ........................................................................................... Page 3 4. I am from Island Green by Maria Silva ...................................................................................Page 4 5. “Community Newsletter” by Rohan .......................................................................................Page 5 6. Where I’m From by Ashley Rinder ...........................................................................................Page 6 3. 13. 4. 7. I am From the Green Land by Maria Sousa .......................................................................... Page 7 11.12. 8. Rocky Point in Jamaica by Brian Samuda ..............................................................................Page 8 5. 10. 9. An Enchanting Neighbourhood by Sabrina Jnbaptiste ...................................................... Page 9 9. 7. 10. Carnival is the Festival that Means so Much to Me by Phillisia Lewis .......................... Page 10 11. Caribana Festival, My Home Away from Home by Denise Jackson ..............................Page 11 6. 12. My Brazilian/Portuguese Community by Luana Spirito .................................................. Page 12 13. Our Community, Our Home by Melissa and Shannon MacArthur .................................. Page 13 8. 14. My Community, My Home by Patricia Andrade .................................................................. Page 15 1. Spirits Bar and Grill - Page 30 8. Caribana - Page 11 15. Hor To’s Community by Hor To Au .......................................................................................Page 16 A great place for Karaoke. A fun day for the whole family. 16. West Side Community by Miles Ogle ......................................................................................Page 17 2. Gerrard Square Mall - Page 40 9. SCCC Community Garden - Page 37 17. Roncesvalles Village by Shawna Santos ..................................................................................Page 18 Where I go shopping. Where I plant flowers and vegetables. 18. Jane and Bloor West Community by Jean Williams .............................................................Page 19 3. John Innes Community Centre - Page 29 10. Alexandra Park Neighbourhood - Page 33 19. Community by Aida Resendes ...................................................................................................Page 20 Where I attend cooking classes. A hockey rink to play in. 20. My Community by Donald ........................................................................................................Page 21 4. Eaton Centre - Page 1 11. Sanderson Library - Page 34 Where I enjoy eating fried rice! Where I can use the computers and borrow books. 21. My Community, My Home by Agostinho Mitange ............................................................. Page 22 5. Toronto Nathan Phillips Square 12. Alexandra Park Neighbourhood Learning 22. The Adventist Church by Alphia jn Louis ..............................................................................Page 23 - Page 35 Centre - Page 32 23. The Uniqueness of Mount Dennis by Antoinette Francis ................................................ Page 24 Where I celebrate New Years Eve. Where I go to school. 24. My Community by Yanique Smith ........................................................................................... Page25 6. CN Tower - Page 2 12. Alexandra Park Neighbourhood Learning “Icy, winter winds.” Centre - Page 31 25. Thornhill by Cherise Sutherland ................................................................................................Page 26 Where I feel welcomed and respected. 7. King Street - Page 43 26. A Commuity of Wellness by Cecelia Ferguson ..................................................................... Page 27 Where I met Steven Tyler. 13. Kensington Market - Page 31 27. My Community by Sandra ......................................................................................................... Page 28 Within walking distance from where I go to school. 48 Southwestern Toronto 28. My Community “Pembroke Mews” by Chardai Boodoosingh .........................................Page 29 29. Places of Sentiment and Value by Kathleen Furlotte .........................................................Page 30 30. My Community by Rahma Idriss ..............................................................................................Page 31 31. My Community by Salim Othman ............................................................................................Page 32 32. Alexandra Park Neighbourhood by Lucy Seto .................................................................... Page 33 1. 33. My Community by Angella Charles ......................................................................................... Page 34 34. My Community, My Home by Cecelia Williams .................................................................. Page 35 7. 8. 2. 6. 4. 3. 35. My Community: From Home to Alexandra Park Neighbourhood 5. Learning Centre by Jo-Anne Houllier ..................................................................................... Page 36 36. My Multicultural Community by Shahina Akther ............................................................... Page 37 37. My Community is Eritrean Canadian Community by Elsa Grimazien .........................Page 38 38. The Exceptional City of Mahabad by Roya Sabouie ......................................................... Page 39 39. Community by Nismela Ramsahai ............................................................................................Page 40 40. My Community, My Home by Danielle Arthur ................................................................... Page 41 41. My Community by Fay Miller ....................................................................................................Page 42 1. Bloor Collegiate - Page 16 42. All City by Mark Brathwaite ........................................................................................................Page 43 Where I play Ringette. 43. Locations of Stories - International ......................................................................................Page 45 2. St. Christopher House - Page 15 Where I volunteer with Meals and Wheels. 44. Locations of Stories - Northestern Toronto .......................................................................Page 46 3. Brazilian Star - Page 12 45. Locations of Stories - Southeastern Toronto ......................................................................Page 46 My favourite Brazilian restaurant. 46. Locations of Stories - Southwestern Toronto .....................................................................Page 47 4. Dufferin and Dundas - Page 14 47. Locations of Stories - Downtown