ww The East York WE WILL REMEMBER n Stories of veterans OBSERVER and volunteers Pages 4, 5 Serving our community since 1972 Vol. 45, No. 10 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, November 11, 2016

St. Anselm students may have to move elsewhere

By UMMEMA CHUTANI The Observer Overcrowding at St. Anselm Catho- lic School on Bessborough Drive has reached the point that the school board wants to talk to parents about trans- ferring some students to neighbouring schools. So the Toronto Catholic District School Board has scheduled a public meeting at St. Anselm for 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21. Both St. Anselm, in the Bayview Avenue-Millwood Drive area, and St. Monica, near Yonge Street and Eglin- ton Avenue East, are overpopulated. Meanwhile, three schools to the east have some room to spare. They’re Holy Veronica Agudelo Correa /// The Observer Cross on Donlands Avenue, Canadian Wynne watches Trump win Martyrs on Plains Road and St. John XXIII on Grenoble Drive. Kathleen Wynne, the Don Valley West MPP — and Ontario premier — was among the guests at an election At St. Anselm, “they’ve been using “watch party” on Tuesday night just outside East York’s southwest corner. The U.S. consulate general invited half the library as a classroom for the local officials, academics and others to the Ada Slaight Hall at Daniels Spectrum for the event. Wynne and last three years,” said Angela Kennedy, most guests suggested their own preference by applauding whenever Democrat Hillary Clinton carried a state. the school board trustee for Ward 11/ But as Republican Donald Trump’s stunning upset became apparent, Wynne said Canada could work with him. East York-Toronto, “and they’re using other spaces as classrooms.” She describes the Nov. 21 meeting as part of the TCDSB’s standard proce- dure for reconciling school populations Park renovation to honour Georgia — and accommodating projections of further growth in the student bodies at By JODY ANDERSON will feature additions to the play- St. Anselm and St. Monica. The Observer ground, a fence surrounding the “It’s a community consultation,” she grounds, a new splash pad and a said. The bright yellow signs asking rubberized platform for wheel- According to Kennedy, the St. Anselm drivers to “Please Slow Down” chair accessibility. property is too small for portable class- still line the streets of East York “The city just doesn’t have the rooms, because their installation would two years after the tragedy that budget to maintain and improve take away space from the schoolyard. marked their arrival. playgrounds,” Walsh noted. “By law, each child is required to By 2018, Jillian Walsh is sure “There’s currently an 85-year have certain square feet to play in,” she they will not be the only lasting re- playground replacement cycle said. “We don’t want to take that away.” minder of the need to drive safely. (and)…in a growing neighbour- Back in May, the board reached a Walsh is leading a fundraising hood and a growing city, it’s im- general consensus that enrolment at the campaign to renovate the play- portant to have this part reflective already crowded St. Anselm and St. Mon- ground at Trace Manes Park as a of the needs of the community -- ica will increase in the foreseeable future. tribute to her daughter, Georgia and it’s not.” In June, the board put forward a plan Walsh, who played there often be- So far, with the support of the to narrow the neighbourhood boundar- fore her death in July 2014. Toronto Parks and Trees Founda- ies of St. Anselm and St. Monica and Georgia was six years old when Jody Anderson/// The Observer tion, the Remembering Georgia expand the boundaries of their neigh- she was fatally struck by a vehi- Georgia Walsh’s mother, Jillian Walsh, sits in front Walsh organization has raised boring schools, Holy Cross, Canadian cle at the intersection of Millwood of Trace Manes Park’s playground. She’s hoping to about $400,000. Martyrs and St. John XXIII. Road and McRae Drive near her raise $1.2 million to redevelop the park in honour of Members intend to rebuild the But Kennedy said feedback from the Leaside home. her daughter. park to the best of their abilities community is now important. She en- Her mother says the overwhelm- regardless of whether they reach courages parents to attend the Nov. 21 ing support of the neighbourhood brace the community and show “This is a very family-orient- their goal of $1.2 million. meeting to voice their opinions on the since the accident continues to this our thanks by… giving back to the ed community and there’s lots To raise funds for the renova- current proposal for new boundaries. day and influenced her decision to community,” she said. of variables that are necessary tion, the organization hosts an Details of the boundary review pro- oversee the rejuvenation of Trace Walsh points out that the main- and missing in this existing play- annual baseball tournament every posal can be found under the “Planning Manes Park. tenance provided by the city is not ground,” she said. “There are a lot summer. and Facilities” section of the board’s “We wanted to make sure that enough to provide the quality the of features that seem to be miss- Anyone wishing to make a website: tcdsb.org something positive came out of children in the neighbourhood de- ing.” donation can go to remembering- her tragedy and we could em- serve. The redevelopment of the park georgiawalsh.com. 2 NEWS The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

POLICE & WHAT’S FIRE UP IN E.Y. Police seize Are you up for cocaine in sketch comedy drug busts challenge? Toronto police have arrested a The Social Capital man following Theatre is hosting a drug investi- a “24-hour Sketch gation. Sathiya- Challenge.” On varathan Varatha- Nov. 19 at 8 p.m., rajah, 47, faces patrons can see five drug-related the show at 1514 charges. A search Courtesy of Michael Garron Hospital Danforth Ave. warrants was Supporting women’s health Performers are put into improv executed at an East York’s Michael Garron Hospital is getting fundraising help from local Shoppers Drug Marts. It’s groups 24 hours O’Connor Drive part of the drug chain’s national Growing Women’s Health campaign. This launch event at the Yonge- before show time. address on Oct. Bloor store included (l-r) cancer patient Lisa Martin, four-time World Series champion Ron Taylor, For more informa- 26. It is alleged former Toronto Maple Leaf Mike Zigomanis, Shoppers pharmacist/owner Jay Tailor, Justin Van Dette tion, visit www. that the police from Michael Garron Hospital, Canadian boxer Spider Jones and Beaches-East York MPP Arthur Potts. seized mari- socap.ca/events. juana, cocaine, crack cocaine and morphine. A Church hosts second warrant Ready for a shot in the arm? opera based on was carried out at a home in Jack- Flu vaccines now available a flu vaccine that could last longer than a Rosette Habib, a pharmacologist from novel by author son’s Point, where year, and maybe even a lifetime,” Dubey Remedy’s RX. police allegedly at clinics and pharmacies said. “So far, no such vaccine is on the Each year, this viral infection affects be- Joy Kogawa seized $9,005. market.” tween five and 10 per cent of adults and across East York, Toronto The idea, according to Dubey, is “a 20-30 per cent of children, Dubey said. St. David’s An- universal vaccine that would activate Most people recover in a week, but preg- glican Church on By VERONICA AGUDELO CORREA Man facing some portion of the flu virus that does not nant women and those with a weak im- Donlands Avenue The Observer change or mutate each year.” So such a mune system are among those who can get near Danforth is charges in It’s that time of year. The weather is shot “could be given over a longer interval. seriously ill. And seniors are also at higher presenting Tap- homicide changing, Christmas stock is out in the The flu viruses that circulate each year are risk if estry Opera’s stores… and East York’s flu vaccine clinics constantly changing, which is why, with production, Nao- A man turned are open. the current technology, a new vaccine is mi’s Road. Based himself over to The first one organized by Toronto Pub- needed each year.” on Joy Kogawa’s police on Nov. 1 lic Health took place on Nov. 3 at the East In the meantime, one version of novel, the opera and is now fac- York Town Centre on Overlea Boulevard. this year’s flu shot will protect kids follows nine-year- ing two charges. The next one is a week from today, on Nov. and adults against four strains of old Japanese-Ca- Simeon Harty, 18, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the East York the flu virus (quadrivalent vac- nadian Naomi on 22, is charged Civic Centre, Coxwell and Mortimer ave- cine). her journey from with first-degree nues. Another, in adults, will pro- Vancouver to a murder and at- Flu vaccinations are an annual ritual tect against three strains (triva- B.C. internment tempted mur- for many East Yorkers; that’s because the lent vaccine). camp. The show der of Nicholas strains of flu that infect people mutate “Getting the flu vaccine can cut your runs from Nov. Gidden, 23. It is and researchers try to predict the coming risk of getting the flu by half,” Dubey said. they catch the flu. 16-19 at 8 p.m. alleged that on strains and modify the vaccines each year “Getting vaccinated protects you, your “With the flu shot, the cold would be less and Nov. 20 at 2 Oct. 27, officers accordingly. family and those around you.” severe,” Habib said. “If they catch the cold p.m. For more in- found a man in a But scientists are working on a more There’s a medical consensus that flu with the flu shot, the symptoms would be formation, contact car suffering from universal flu vaccine that would allow any- shots are the most effective method to less severe. Flu vaccines can be intramuscu- Tapestry Opera at gunshot wounds. one, in theory, to be vaccinated less often, avoid influenza and its complications. But lar or intranasal injection.” 416-537-6066. He was taken to according to Dr. Vinita Dubey, a Toronto the experts admit that they’re taking some- Children aged two to 17 can get either the hospital, but suc- Public Health spokesperson and associate thing like an educated guess when they nasal spray or injection vaccine. Children cumbed to his medical officer of health. predict which strains are most likely to hit. under two years old and adults 18 years and Worried about injuries two days “Scientists are working on developing “Strains change from year to year,” said older can get the injectable vaccine. dementia? This later. session might Search on for Laughing out loud at Toilet Town ease your mind missing woman By SCOTT DELL Danforth.” zy-theatrical.” Michael Garron Toronto police are The Observer Fergus is a participant in a bourgeoning Comic Che Durena plans on making a Hospital is hosting searching for a east-end comedy scene — with other ven- few adult jokes on the 19th, but promises an information woman reported No, Toilet Town isn’t East York’s larg- ues like the Underground Comedy Club, a slick set. session called ‘I missing on Oct. est retailer of discount latrines. which has played host to Joe Rogan and “I’m coming off a runner-up spot in have trouble re- 27. Jennifer Am- Instead, it’s the improbable name for a Ari Shaffir. Sirius XM’s Next Top Comic competi- membering things; oyette, 32, was lineup of comedic talent bringing offbeat “The east end is getting bigger and tion,” Durena said, “so you can expect to do I have demen- last seen in the laughs to the Danforth next weekend. better,” Fergus said. “It’s like a small see some tight, showcase-style material.” tia?’ It will take Danforth Avenue On Nov. 19, East York comedian Ian scene of its own with little shows and lots A showcase is a highlight of the com- place on Nov. 16. and Dawes Road Fergus will helm the show at the Social of comics.” ic’s best material, meant to be used as au- Speakers include area. She is de- Capital Theatre, 154 Danforth Ave., near Fergus describes next weekend’s show ditions for clubs and festivals. nurse practitioner scribed as 5 feet, Broadview. as “a collection of east-end comics, with As for Fergus, he’s already a veteran at Nicole Spira and 9 inches, with a The theatre is one of the most active one exception, Blair Streeter. We’re just Social Capital. registered nurse medium build and comedy venues in the city’s east end, trying to showcase all of the talent in the “I do the open mic there all the time Kathleen Dineley. short curly hair. and Fergus says he’s proud to be bring- east end.” and I do whatever spots I can get there,” A light lunch will Anyone with infor- ing comedy out of downtown and into his But while the comics may be almost he said. “I like it because it’s really close be provided. For mation is urged to backyard. uniformly local, Fergus says there’s noth- to home and the atmosphere is really nice more information, contact police at “I just want to show people that there ing uniform about their styles. and welcoming.” call 416-469- 416-808-5500. is entertainment in the east end too. It’s “Every one is unique and has their own Toilet Town begins at 10 p.m. and costs 6580, ext. 3205. not all downtown,” he said. “People don’t voice and I find them all funny. We’ve got $5 to get in. ~ Cavel Brown have to go downtown to see a good com- everything from a stay-at-home dad to a Ticket proceeds will be pooled and ~ Renee Allen edy show. They can see it right on the 22-year-old in Kyle Lucey — who is cra- then split evenly among the comics. The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 NEWS 3 A play about survival, resilience and hope between siblings. Counsellor incorporates her In this particular scenario, psychological own childhood experiences and social agony lingers in the main character long after the abuse — and despite the charac- into story about sibling abuse ter’s genuine family love for the brother who abused her. By VERONICA AGUDELO CORREA The second story depicts sister-sister abuse, The Observer overlooked by the mother despite its frequen- cy. The character ‘‘Jade’’ eventually goes on to an arts college. Jade spends her semester draw- For Lorene Stanwick, “Broken Branches” is ing her rage on white canvases — and cutting the cathartic intersection between the past, her herself. But a teacher helps her redirect her profession — and a play. anguish into the style of Japanese hand-drawn Stanwick is a counsellor for students with animation known as anime. Jade creates her disabilities at the East York campus of Cen- character with superpowers. tennial College. She’s officially retired to a Broken Branches is lightened somewhat in small farm in Prince Edward County, between its final act, a bit of dark comedy in which the Belleville and Kingston. But she still returns main character imitates the voices of the fam- to East York for short-term counselling stints ily members. at the Carlaw Avenue school. The character is presented writing a letter And she’s written a powerful play based to his mom. After an older brother leaves, the on her own childhood experience. It will be middle brother starts to physically abuse his staged next spring, but on Oct. 21 it was pre- younger brother. It helps drive home the point viewed with a read-through at the Workman that the mistreatment won’t stop if parents ig- Arts theatre on Dufferin Street. nore it, attribute it to the victim, or just excuse It’s about sibling abuse. Not sibling rivalry, it as sibling rivalry. which is common among siblings. This varia- The issue behind the abuse is abandonment. tion is beyond the normal jealousy, competi- Veronica Agudelo Correa /// The Observer His mother abandoned the character “Josh” on tion and fighting between brothers and sisters. Lorene Stanwick (far left) is an East York college counsellor and the au- Christmas day. And some of the time, parents don’t see the thor of the provocative play “Broken Branches.” She and other members But while the characters of Broken Branch- abuse for what it is. of the play’s cast and crew held a read-though of the script on Oct. 21 at es deal with drugs, alcohol, abandonment, self- Stanwick defines it as the physical, emotion- the Workman Arts theatre on Dufferin Avenue. harm and helplessness, the play has moments al or sexual abuse of one sibling by another. of laughter, hope, strength, support and hap- She said her play, Broken Branches, represents “At its core, Broken Branches is about sur- manage struggles in a healthy way. piness. family relationships, the bond and the inter- vival, resilience and hope,” Stanwick said. One of the stories is about two best friends The play encourages the audience to realize connections among family members — and Her script tells three different stories, not re- talking about their childhood — when one of that sibling abuse is real, but it can be managed how sibling abuse makes those connections lated to each other. It explores various circum- the characters confesses to her best friend the with love from close friends, and with counsel- stretch to the breaking point. stances arising around its three main charac- sexual assault that she suffered from her broth- ling and even humour. The Oct. 21 reading was hosted by Stanwick ters — and the long-term problems that those er. Broken Branches is scheduled to run from and Joanne Latimer, who is also the producer/ characters experience into adulthood. Although the topic was difficult to digest late April until mid-May at the Tarragon The- dramaturge. The purpose was to get feedback Stanwick and Latimer explained that abuse for some people in the audience at the read- atre Extraspace on Bridgman Avenue near from the audience for fine-tuning the produc- can occur when parents are not around much at through, Stanwick said that she wants to start a Bathurst and Dupont streets. tion — and for the audience to get a glimpse of home, or they download too much responsibil- conversation. She added that it’s important to More information on the production can be the play’s structure and meet the actors. ity, or they haven’t taught their children how to educate people about the abuse that can occur found at brokenbranches.ca

n DEVELOPMENT Historic E.Y. church to be converted into condominiums ments said that he understands the suites. Project to be a blend value of maintaining the church Grid Developments was at- of building’s original building’s heritage. It has been tracted to the East York neigh- a fixture in the community for bourhood and the possibility of 1925 architecture almost a century. a mid-rise building nestled in a “The retention of the existing residential community, Aykler and modern elements façade is the main thing,” Aykler said. said. He added that the developers By RENEE ALLEN “That’s going to be preserving have faced little opposition to the The Observer the history of the building,” project, except for concerns about The sound of Sunday-morning The Georgian classical style of parking and the height of the hymns sung at Temple Baptist the building dates back to designs structure. Church has faded to a memory in 18th-century England. The archi- “The neighbourhood has been now. tect was George Evans Thomas. generally supportive,” he said. They’re being replaced by the The church’s congregation sold ”We’ve had quite a few people on sounds of construction. the building in 2013 after moving Dewhurst Boulevard buy units in Grid Developments is convert- the previous year. the project.” ing the church at 14 Dewhurst The interior of the structure is The developer is hoping that Blvd., in the Danforth-Donlands being gutted, but the developers potential residents will be attract- area, into condominiums. will be looking for unique features ed to the idea that although the The project is a blend of the such as plaques and pews during building is no longer a place for building’s original 1925 architec- the demolition process to repur- church-goers to congregate and Renee Allen /// The Observer ture with modern elements such as pose in the final product. worship, it will create a space for Grid Developments is converting the historic Temple rooftop terraces. Ultimately, “Sunday School its dwellers to live in as a part of Baptist Church building near Danforth and Donlands into Justin Aykler at Grid Develop- Lofts” will contain 32 residential East York’s history. condominiums.

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4 FEATURES The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 n COMMUNITY Program ‘lifts hearts’ with artwork

arts program’s theme of music, diversity and Jazz festival’s multi-arts community. It held community art workshops during the jazz festival and the resulting art- program brings local art work was then donated to various hospitals, including MGH. into East York hospital Nicole D’Amario is the art instructor for the workshops. She says the project gave By JASMINE HUI schools in the area an opportunity to contrib- The Observer ute to a good cause. “The hospital’s involvement gave the pro- It’s been said that art has the power to gram so much of its meaning,” D’Amario heal. If that’s true, patients at Michael Garron said. “The schoolchildren really started to Hospital (MGH) will soon be a step closer to understand the impact of mural work as they better health, thanks to a program that brings took part in building their own mural lega- art created by the community into local hos- cy within their own schools. It helped them pitals. gauge the impact that Hang Art, Lift Hearts The Beaches International Jazz Festival’s could make.” multi-arts program was launched in 2014 af- Katchutas said no matter where its creators ter the festival received a grant from the On- Courtesy of Joanna Katchutas end up, their artwork will stay in the hospital tario Trillium Foundation for new initiatives, Multi-arts program staff Joanna Katchutas (left), Nicole D’Amario and forever. including the donation of art to area hospitals. MGH Volunteer Services Manager Denny Petrovski introduce the artwork “This is something that will always be Its co-ordinator, Joanna Katchutas, developed from the Hang Arts, Lift Hearts program. there,” she said. “The hospitals will always the program with Denny Petrovski, manag- have these paintings and they’re going to er of volunteer services at MGH, formerly borough Hospital last year, similar to what we One of these was the “Hang Art, Lift make people happy.” known as Toronto East General. did with Michael Garron Hospital,” she said. Hearts” program, where students and teach- The artwork is still in the process of being Katchutas says the donation of art to the “This year the project was on a much grander ers at local schools created artwork on ceiling displayed throughout the hospital. A plaque East York hospital is the festival’s “last scale. We had a lot more schools involved and tiles. The tiles are currently being installed in naming all the contributors to the project will grand” project. different programs that we didn’t have in the MGH’s emergency wing. be erected in MGH’s emergency department “We did a donation program to the Scar- past.” All artwork needed to follow the multi- when the installation has been completed.

n REMEMBRANCE DAY East York Jackman students tell story in dance remembers Observance includes poetry, drama and songs from junior choir at separate By SHERIKA HARRIS The Observer services On Tuesday, Narin Shamasi joined her classmates in the gym at Jackman Avenue By OBSERVER STAFF Junior Public School, in the Broadview-Dan- The Observer forth area of East York. As a recording played out the music, Narin Today’s municipal Remembrance swung her arms behind her back and then Day ceremony starts at 10:45 a.m. in back in front of her chest in a prayer motion; the Memorial Gardens of the East York occasionally she froze in a tableau. Civic Centre. “All my life I’ve been waiting for, I’ve Royal Canadian Legion Zone D3 been praying for people to say… ‘We don’t Commander Walter Vaughan will lead want to fight no more,’” the song said. that ceremony with Warrant Officer She was performing to the song “One Kendra Humby of the 337 Royal Can- Day,” by Matisyahu, a Jewish-American adian Army Cadets, Ward 29 councillor reggae vocalist. Mary Fragedakis and Rev. Alex Bisset “I always sing the song in my head and of Westminster Presbyterian Church. then I look at myself as if I’m doing it,” Na- A flypast will be performed by the rin said. Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association In mid-September, Grade 4-6 students and the Canadian Warplane Heritage began rehearsing for their annual Remem- Museum. brance Day ceremony, to take place today, Sherika Harris /// The Observer Then, at 2 p.m. in the library of Cen- Nov. 11. Grade 4 teacher, Sara Cheng, has Students from Jackman Avenue Junior Public School practise for to- tennial College’s East York campus on helped organize the school’s ceremonies for day’s Remembrance Day performance. They began rehearsing for the Carlaw Avenue, journalism professor 13 years. event in mid-September. and war historian Ted Barris will be Cheng shared the preparation with fellow hosting a ceremony where the French teachers Mandy Csamer and Raul Selberg. the floor. Selberg began to explain that, be- little voices. When you try to do an actual consul general in Toronto, Marc Tr- They all worked together, creating a dramat- cause there are no words, the students have play, their voices get lost,” she said. “Al- ouyet, will present the l’Ordre national ic program to commemorate the day. to use their bodies to convey the message. though they may have worked for months de la Légion d’honneur (the Legion of Narin said she’s been practising the dance “Facial expression is key. It’s still tableau. and months, they get up there and they get Honour) to two veterans. routine every chance she gets. It’s all visual,” he said. scared and nobody can hear them.” Jim Jenkins of the 19th Field Ar- As the song played in her head, she said “The first tableau (talks) about blood in Cheng encouraged her students to remem- tillery, Royal Canadian Artillery, and she could recognize how important her the streets, war and all those terrible things; ber to look big on stage: Martin Maxwell of the British Glider movements were. (so) listen to those lyrics…. I want to see it “Show me big movements, so even your Regiment are receiving honours for “I do it sometimes in class while I’m in your face.” granny can see it.” their service in the Second World War correcting my math,” she said at Tuesday’s Cheng said she thinks a dance-drama piece The Jackman Avenue Junior Public School liberation of France. rehearsal. gives children a chance to really express Remembrance Day observance also included Barris will also do a live interview When the children completed their run- themselves. performances from student poets as well as of war veterans Theo Thompson and through, they sat at one end of the gym on “The thing about little kids is, they have the junior choir. Esther Thorley. The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 FEATURES 5 Volunteer looks back with pride at her role in Second World War Woman inspired to join up after losing one of her classmates during bombing raid on Wales

By VARAD MEHTA The Observer

The loss of a personal friend pushed Theo Hopkinson to volunteer during the Second World War. At the time, James Dalgarno /// The Observer she lived in Cardiff, Wales, where Ger- Martin Maxwell, pictured above in full pilot uniform, says the war “changed my man aircraft regularly bombed the city life... made me who I am.” docks. “One day, when I was at school, I was sent home to see why one of the girls Varad Mehta /// The Observer in my class hadn’t come (to school),” Theo Hopkinson was rec- Hopkinson said. “I walked to her house Veteran recalls deadly ognized by the Government and bodies were being brought out.” Code and Cypher School for Then only 17, she decided to volun- her contributions during the teer for service in the military. Second World War. role in D-Day invasion Hopkinson will be among the vet- erans featured during the annual Re- two years. By JAMES DALGARNO Normandy on the eve of D-Day, Maxwell returned to England by membrance Day observance this after- During her time at Hanslope Park, The Observer June 6, 1944. submarine. He was later involved noon, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. at Centennial she met a radio technician, Dennis “We were lucky we had some in Operation Market Garden in College’s East York campus on Carlaw Hopkinson, whom she would later On a moonlit night in June 1944, moonlight,” he said and added that Arnhem, in the Netherlands, where Avenue. marry. Martin Maxwell, a glider pilot with the men in the glider sang until they he was severely wounded and cap- Hopkinson served in the Auxiliary As the war ended, and years passed, Allied forces, landed his aircraft neared the target. “(We) knew what tured by German troops. Territorial Service (ATS) in the U.K. Hopkinson along with her husband and near a bridge in Normandy, France. we had to do.” But Maxwell’s wounds were not before being sent to the University of two daughters (Claire and Barbara) He then joined invasion troops, Maxwell was not just a pilot. Af- just physical. He said he bore emo- Edinburgh to study tele-printer operat- moved to Canada. who quietly killed the German sen- ter he landed his glider, he said he tional scars from the war too. ing, touch type and Morse code. For years, Hopkinson and her hus- tries with bayonets and seized the engaged in hand-to-hand combat “For years (after the war), my The ATS first stationed her at Luton band kept their work at Hanslope Park bridge. Maxwell, 20, hadn’t even against enemy troops. wife, Eleanor, told me (that) I Hoo, then in 1945, transferred her to a secret due the Official Secrets Act. finished high school. “Gliders are quiet. If we had screamed in my dreams,” he said. Hanslope Park, near Bletchley Park, They had sworn an oath of secrecy “It didn’t feel good, let me tell (motorized) planes, the whole (Ger- He added, however, that speaking where she sent and received messages about their work on Enigma. you that,” he said. “It changed my man) garrison would hear,” Max- to school groups about his experi- on a tele-printer and the Rockex ma- Hopkinson, 89, now recognizes that life; the war made me who I am.” well explained. “We had to kill… ence helps to deal with the mem- chine. During the war, she and thou- her work contributed to ending the Maxwell, now 92, was born in the guards on the bridge. It feels ories, good and bad. sands of others served in top-secret war. For her service she was awarded Austria in 1924. He will be speak- terrible, especially the first time.” “I like to speak and to impart my operations. a Bletchley Park Medal and was also ing of his service in the Second The D-Day veteran said he does knowledge to students. I remember “(I worked) in the fight to decode the recognized with the Government Code World War during a Remembrance not think of himself as a lucky man, my first day in the army; I remem- Enigma (machine) and the Lorenz ma- and Cypher School certificate, signed Day observance at Centennial Col- but he never thought he would die. ber the POW camp,” he said. “The chine; so we read (German messages) by the United Kingdom’s former Prime lege’s East York campus on Carlaw “When you go into (war) you night after I speak, I usually don’t and sent out false messages,” she said. Minister David Cameron. Avenue this afternoon, Nov. 11, at never think that you’re going to get sleep.” Hopkinson said mathematicians such “I’m not in the same class as Alan 2 p.m. killed,” he said. Maxwell said he cannot change as Alan Turing and William Thomas Turing, William Thomas Tutte, or any Maxwell landed his Horsa glider, “The guy next to you may get the bad memories, but “I try to Tutte were among the many people of them,” Hopkinson said. “They have filled with 30 Allied soldiers and killed, but not you.” think of the positives. Otherwise, I whose work, historians say, saved 22 the grateful thanks of a nation, but we supplies, near Pegasus Bridge in Following the D-Day invasion, would not have survived.” million lives and shortened the war by also had pride.” Grandson follows family tradition of military service By SAMI KOLJONEN LeRoy Sr. became a machine gunner and In 1934, James A. LeRoy was told that The Observer was shipped to Europe to fight in the Great the bullet could be removed from his body. War. He thought it would be a great adven- He underwent surgery, but something went The man after whom Jim LeRoy is named ture. wrong. He didn’t survive. He left behind his was wounded in the last month of the Great “But it was not as fun as he thought,” his wife and two sons, aged 11 and three. War. grandson said. Many other members of the LeRoy family “He was in a lot of pain,” LeRoy said of Machine gunner LeRoy suffered from have served in the armed forces. James his grandfather. several diseases and saw his friends fall A. LeRoy’s father served in the Boer War. James A. LeRoy, from a farm near Bel- n JAMES LEROY n JIM LEROY beside him. Robert K. LeRoy, Jim’s uncle, served in the leville, Ont., joined the Canadian Army at The First World War was different from Second World War. And Jim Leroy himself 18 and was wounded in the second battle of Members there staged a parade and re- what he – or anyone – could have imagined, served from 1979 to 1985. Cambrai in France two years later in October membrance service on Nov. 6. Jim LeRoy said. No one had thought that “The wars affected everyone, and still 1918. In an interview, the grandson reflected thousands of men could lose their lives in a affects people,” Jim LeRoy said. “He had never experienced... combat and on the grandfather’s wartime experience. He day. “Even though there are no World War I the life in a trench wasn’t easy,” his grandson said that James A. LeRoy travelled to Wind- The bullet that hit LeRoy at Cambrai veterans alive (today), the history is there said. sor, Ont., in 1916 to join the Canadian army. entered his torso and stopped near his spinal and through history we are able to see how Jim LeRoy serves as chaplain with the “He joined like everybody else, because it column. The bullet couldn’t be removed, but brutal man was,” he said. “That’s something Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 11, in East was a matter of duty to King and country,” he was still alive. The war ended a month that I hope we never have to go through York. grandson Jim LeRoy explained. later. again.” 6 OPINION The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 n COLUMNS n EDITORIALS Honour veterans by Discussion will produce reminders of war efforts helping oppressed Today’s Remembrance things that we could be doing war memorial in Toronto Day observances are in addition. For instance, the or Ottawa, like ‘the wall’ in This editorial is being published on Nov. 11. Remembrance Day. As they have for fine as far as they go. poll shows that only four Washington officially known years, East Yorkers will gather at the Memorial Gardens of the East York Civic Centre But they don’t go far in ten Canadians think as the Vietnam Veterans Me- around 10:45 today to pay homage to our war dead. enough. We need to that our schoolchildren morial. Remembrance Day began as an occasion to observe the sacrifice of those who died in pay attention to veter- are learning enough about Today, Nov. 11, puts the the line of duty during the First World War. Not only in Canada, but across the British ans for more than just Canada’s war history. spotlight on veterans living Commonwealth. It is an observance created by a British monarch, and it reflects the day a day each year. Many schools are and dead — but for the other that the armistice ending the First World War came into effect. I’m not the only good about 364 days of the year, the light That was 1918. Perhaps after a near-century, it is time for Remembrance Day to shift one who thinks inviting vet- isn’t focused on them the way somewhat from its historically British origins and align more directly with Canadian and this. According erans to it could be. contemporary experience, not just the experience of Canadian soldiers in the two major to a recent poll share their Reminders such as memori- European wars of the 20th century. by Ipsos, nine in experiences als and more comprehensive Perhaps it is even time to shift some of the Remembrance Day emphasis to the horrors ten Canadians today, Re- education are just a couple of of war faced by people — especially civilians — outside of North America and Western think that we membrance Day. ways for sharing the priceless Europe. After all, the Canadian mosaic is increasingly reflective of people from other should be doing But we need to stories of the heroic people parts of the world… some of them war-torn. more to honour make sure that those and the dramatic events that In the simplest of terms, Remembrance Day traditionally honours Western military lives those who valuable experiences have helped cement the en- lost. But both world wars and wars between and since have also been fought in Asia, the were involved don’t get lost over time viable Canadian way of life Middle East, Africa and South America. Asia and the Middle East, in particular, are parts in war. and through the genera- since the turn of the 20th of the world that have brought masses of immigration to Canada. Not to mention culture, Of course we should tions, and one way to do century. diversity and economic growth as well. have an occasion to hon- that might be to create ap- These stories need to be Canada’s First World War veterans are all gone now, and the ranks of Second World our the dead of the First propriate elementary and preserved and having itera- War vets are rapidly (and sadly) thinning. With their passing, there may be a bit of a vacu- World War. And the dead secondary school curric- tions throughout the year will um in Canadians’ thoughts and feelings around Remembrance Day anyway. and living from the Sec- ulum covering Canada’s help keep them alive. Let’s Perhaps as the torch passes to more overt recognition of veterans of later conflicts — in ond. And those from more war and peacekeeping commemorate them. places like Korea and Afghanistan — there’s an opportunity to, for instance, show some recent war efforts. And efforts. The men and women of interest in the brutalities still happening today in North Korea. Canada’s peacekeepers. Another might be a Canada’s military have risked Many of us may not know that Canada has a small population of North Korean defec- But the Ipsos poll new, ambitious and dra- — and in many cases lost — tors. Canadian law, liberating as it is, bars North Koreans from seeking asylum in Canada sug- matic their lives for this country. because they are entitled to South Korean citizenship. Although that sounds ideal, imag- gests Rose Hetherington Cana- The least we can do is honour ine living in a country where you are looked down upon because of that inevitable gap of other dian them more than once a year. class and culture. Think about it: We can honour our veterans and their service by continuing to strive to unshackle the chains around the very people whom they fought to liberate. So perhaps it is time for Canada to offer the same refuge to North Koreans as we have A clash between big cities proudly extended to Syrian and Iraqis. What better way is there to remember our soldiers than to continue their mission on a peaceful scale? And I thought Halifax was up, he’s excited to have me in includes just finding some- The same goes for Afghanistan. a big city. Still, when I lived the city, and we get the bills…. where with those overpriced In 2014, when Canada demobilized in Afghanistan and withdrew the troops, our coun- there, it felt like I knew every- Like a lot of students, I like beers and a TV to watch the try could have made Afghanistan a priority among the countries that we accept refugees body. Like I could walk into to drink on the cheap. So ex- ball game. Then factor in from. But according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in 2014 Afghanistan wasn’t any store or go to any bar and cuse my jaw hitting the geography of friends and even in the ‘top 10’ — the priority countries where our government was assisting refu- there would be at least an ac- the table when that their desire to find a mutually gees. That is not to say Canada didn’t accept them. Privately sponsored refugees coming quaintance for me to connect local pint of beer convenient meeting spot. And through organizations such as the Afghan Association of Ontario have paved the way for with. clocks in at $8… the don’t forget the imperative more Afghans over the years. It was a blessing and a curse most expensive beer consideration of a thin wal- But in the period of 2003-2014, when Canada was at war in Afghanistan, it accepted — especially when it came to I’ve ever had let. Oh, and the problem far more refugees from countries like China and Mexico. Neither were war-torn states at the pub scene that I was part of (by a margin of the subway line the time. Neither had parts of their country ruled by extremist militias and warlords at the as a wayward youth. of $2.25). closing before the expense of civilian lives. In Halifax, bars were plenti- I was bars do… leaving So the question remains: How can we honour the sacrifice of our troops if we are not ful. Seriously. In fact, Halifax close to one with no alter- seeing their mission through to our best ability? Canada’s campaign in Afghanistan was has one of the highest numbers walk- native but to con- not only to stabilize the nation, but also to protect civilians. If civilians are still not safe of bars-per-capita around. And ing vert the station in their country, then Canada should focus more on government-assisted refugees from beers were cheap. But rather back to closest to the Afghanistan. than go back down the road of Nova watering In an important way, civilians arriving in Canada from war-torn parts of the world also my formerly wastrel ways — Scotia hole into a connect this country more directly with a terrible side of modern warfare — the horror of reckless drinking in a beauti- right then makeshift war often deliberately inflicted on non-combatants. Canada escaped direct assault on its ful, historic city — I’ll explain and there. Holiday own soil and civilian population during the major wars of the last century. But that was how it all changed when I And that’s Inn. a blessing not shared by many people in many other lands. In the last few years, the true ‘went west’ for school. another thing: Granted, Toronto terror of war has been brought home to us — literally. Toronto. Now that’s a really In Halifax, you has some attractions. Refugees from countries such as Libya, Iraq and Syria are becoming part of our Cana- big city. On my second night walk everywhere But in my experience, dian diaspora, our identity. They have become part of us. Their fears and pain have been in The Big Smoke, I went to a because, well, ev- it’s lacking incentive bequeathed to thoughtful Canadians. Their memories have become our stories. Their bar with my brother and tried erything is close to imbibe. struggle for their lives is something that we promise they will not face again. to order a pitcher of Pabst Blue enough to walk Now 2.6 million Because refugees are part of our mosaic, we can now say Canada’s civilians have in- Ribbon. But with no success. to. Not so much in people like the city deed felt the fear of war and the trauma of death. Canada has felt war. Apparently it’s illegal to serve Toronto; it seems just fine, thank you This is why Remembrance Day should not be limited to honouring veterans and their de- a single person a pitcher. OK. like plans to get — enough to call it ceased comrades. Because troops are not the only ones to have faced conflict. Many of Can- Heaven forbid there be serious from Point A to B home anyway. OK. ada’s new residents have a chapter in that age-old story of courage and sacrifice. Their part drinking. So I’ll have a pint need to be made You can have is not glorified, but it is still there… and one story cannot be told without the other anymore. of anything. Something local, weeks in it. For me, ~ Ummema Chutani the server suggests. I naively advance Kirk Budden home is still agree. My brother and I catch – and that Halifax.

The East York The East York Observer is published by Centennial College journalism students at the East York cam- FACULTY EDITORS MANAGING EDITOR PRODUCTION EDITORS pus, 951 Carlaw Ave., Rm. 149. Mailing address: Ted Barris Andrew Holland Ashley Bruzas P.O. Box 631, Stn. A, Toronto, M1K 5E9. E-mail c/o Stephen Cogan PHOTO EDITOR Jasmine Hui [email protected]. Telephone 416-289- Lindy Oughtred Kirk Budden ASSIGNMENT EDITOR OBSERVER 5107, fax 416-289-5111. We welcome your input, Colin Edwards including letters to the editor. The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 FEATURES 7 Love in the air at aviation meet

Courtesy of City of Toronto Archives The Observer resumes its look back on East York history through photographs from the City of Toronto Archives. These two pictures stir a romantic impression of what that old movie called “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.” In this case, we could add this subtitle: “And the Wom- en They Loved.” That’s because the woman on the left is Mrs. Charles F. Willard (her own first name not provided). And the city archivists quote a researcher who believes that the setting is an “aviation meet” held at Donlands Farm, Todmorden Mills, Aug. 3-5, 1911. The man on the right is Mr. Willard — her husband. The archives’ researcher says that he’s the pilot of a “Curtiss-type ‘Pusher’ bi-plane with inset ailerons and rotary engine,” and that the photo was taken either at the same Todmorden meet where his wife was photographed, or at a meet in Hamilton one week earlier.

n COMMENT Tory misled us It seems that when it comes to transit in East York and the rest of Toronto, politicians have made many promises — almost all of which have been broken. During the 2014 election, then-mayoral candidate John Tory put fixing the city’s inadequate public transit system at the centre of his campaign. A signature proposal of his was the SmartTrack project, a‘surface subway’ using existing GO railroad tracks to en- hance public transit in this city. Tory ambitiously claimed that it would be finished in just seven years, and would come at no additional charge to Toronto taxpayers. Renee Allen /// The Observer Now, a report from city staff says that not only is Jan Wong (left) listens intently as Cliff Lonsdale shares an anecdote about his experiences with the project expected to take 12 years, it is also going mental health during a recent panel discussion at the Story Arts Centre. to require a new source of revenue in order for it to be completed. In addition to complications with the SmartTrack When mental illness hits the newsroom system, the same city report revealed that Toronto is going to be on the hook for additional transit costs that were By RENEE ALLEN Recovery, Redemption and, Yes, Hap- a period of time on disability, he no longer previously not known. As part of an agreement with the The Observer piness. She spoke about her experiences felt at home. province of Ontario, Toronto residents are now responsi- during a panel discussion called Mental “I returned to a very different place… ble for the day-to-day operations and maintenance costs Ten years ago, then-Globe and Mail Health & the Newsroom, held Oct. 22 at When I would walk down the hallway, of future light rail transit (LRT) projects. This includes reporter Jan Wong was sent to cover the Centennial College’s East York campus. people would turn their heads,” he said. the Finch West, Sheppard East and Eglinton-Crosstown, Dawson College shooting in Quebec. Af- Fellow panelists included Cliff Lons- “They would look at the floor. They would which will directly service the East York community. ter her controversial story was published, dale, journalism professor and president refuse to look at me.” City councillor and TTC Chair Josh Colle has made the she received hate mail, death threats and a of the Canadian Journalism Forum on Statistics show that one in five Canadi- point that the costs laid out in the city report are what it rebuke from her employer. Violence and Trauma; Dr. Anthony Fein- ans will have mental health issues in their takes to expand Toronto’s transit system and “if we want “We don’t go into journalism to win stein, a psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health lifetime. these things, then citizens and councillors have to be will- Miss Congeniality, so I thought I was go- Sciences Centre and University of Toron- The panelists agreed that as stress in ing to take steps to pay for them.” ing to be OK,” she said. to professor; and journalist Scott Simmie, the workplace escalates, an open dialogue It is true that creating a reliable transit system with ade- However, Wong was far from OK. She who acted as moderator. about mental health needs to occur. quate coverage is going to cost a lot of money and Toronto wasn’t eating or sleeping properly. She The two-hour discussion, co-hosted by “When you think about it, it’s not really residents realize that some of the burden of paying for it cried all the time and suffered from mem- the Toronto chapter of the Canadian As- one in five. It’s all of us,” Lonsdale said. will fall on their shoulders. But what the taxpayers of this ory loss. The Globe and Mail published 15 sociation of Journalists and the Canadian Feinstein, who has conducted extensive city don’t want is to be misled by a mayor who apparently of the hundreds of letters to the editor it Media Guild, focused on how journalists research into how covering conflict affects makes campaign policy proposals that he is not sure he received complaining about her story, one are affected by their environment and how journalists, believes that education about can follow through on. of them from then-Prime Minister Stephen they cope. mental health takes away the stigma. In order to pay for the SmartTrack system, taxes will Harper. She felt abandoned by her own Simmie said he experienced an episode Breaking down stereotypes and mis- have to be raised (three per cent or more). And that means newspaper. of mania in China after being demoted conceptions helps show people they can that Mayor Tory will have to break the promise he made to “I couldn’t have a mental illness be- from his post as CBC’s Moscow bureau live healthy lives, even while dealing with Torontonians when he was asking for their vote in 2014. cause I’m strong; I am tough,” she said. producer. While in a delusional state, he mental illness, he said. It also makes peo- We should remember that the next time he asks. “But I did.” spent most of his money on antique furni- ple more likely to seek treatment. Wong went on to write a book about her ture and believed he was a powerful sales- “When people understand what’s going ~ Andrew Holland journey through depression -- Out of the person. on,” Feinstein said, “they feel empowered Blue, A Memoir of Workplace Depression, When he returned to work at CBC after to do something about it.” 8 FEATURES The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

Courtesy of DHX Media Degrassi High’s most famous band, The Zit Remedy, filmed the video for their hit single, Everybody Wants Something, in East York. College helped bring Degrassi to life

your students?’ And there it began,” said Schluyer. “The begin- Centennial’s East York campus ning of what turned out to be a beautiful relationship for two years.” used for the filming of popular The kids of Degrassi Junior High were then graduated to De- grassi High in a brand new setting, and during the two years the television series Degrassi High filming took place, Gray’s students would observe the filming process. By UMMEMA CHUTANI One of the main reasons Schluyer loved being in East York The Observer was that she herself is from the area. Prior to producing the Degrassi franchise, Schluyer was a teacher at Earl Grey Senior Centennial College is celebrating its 50th anniversary this Public School near Pape and Danforth. A lot of the actors were fall, and among the special moments in the east-Toronto also neighbourhood kids. school’s history, the East York campus on Carlaw Avenue may “It was fantastic for us to be shooting in the east end because take the cake — for being the filming location of the “Degrassi a lot of our actors and extras actually came from the east end High” television series. of Toronto and Centennial was a wonderful location for us,” The Degrassi franchise spans many different series, but Linda she said. Schluyer produced them all. And Schluyer believes the stars Aside from the location, Schluyer loved the fact that there aligned when she came upon the Centennial building at 951 was a great parking lot for the production company’s trucks. Carlaw Ave. back in the early 1990s. Furthermore, the main entrance that’s set back quite far from The show “Degrassi Junior High” was filmed in a building the street was perfect for morning scenes of the kids arriving that was once Vincent Massey Public School in Etobicoke. Al- at school. though the cast and crew stayed there for three years, having Schluyer said she was glad that by not having trucks parked to work with one floor and four classrooms just wasn’t feasible on the street, and by shooting exterior scenes far from the side- anymore. walk, she and her team were good neighbours to the residential “Those classrooms not only had to be our sets but they had to area around the school. Courtesy of DHX Media be the holding tanks for our extras and we had to fit in wardrobe But for Schluyer, the best asset of the building was the out- Cast-members gather around the show’s iconic and hair,” said Schluyer. “It was just crazy; the space was far door courtyard in the centre of the structure — an original fea- sign at their East York set. too small.” ture of the campus dating from its construction in the 1950s as Meanwhile, Schluyer’s team had made a dramatic decision the Toronto Teachers College. to burn the school down — in the script of course — during duction, called “Ida Makes a Movie.” That happened to be the “We loved shooting out there because you could be outside the series finale, after the kids had graduated from junior high. pilot to “The Kids of Degrassi Street” — the initial instalment but you didn’t have the traffic,” she said, “and visually, you “So there we were as producers,” Schluyer said. “We’d in the degrassi franchise, which first aired in 1979. could have kids in the courtyard eating lunch and you could burned our school down and now we had nowhere to continue At that point, the building was in need of refurbishing and look through those beautiful glass walls and you could see kids shooting the show.” little-used by the college. Most of Centennial’s activities were in the hallway. It was visually a very attractive place.” Schluyer believes luck was on her side when a young Centen- at other campuses in Scarborough. After a 10-year hiatus, Schluyer began her next Degrassi nial College broadcast and film student, David Yonson, invited Schluyer remembered: “They bought this building and they project, “Degrassi: The Next Generation” and although it was her to his end-of-year film project screening. Yonson had been had all these great plans for renovations and looking at all this filmed in a studio, the sets were designed with certain aspects of doing his placement on the set of Degrassi Junior High. And his space I was thinking, ‘Okay, you have all these plans for reno- Centennial College as the architectural inspiration. final film project was screened at Centennial’s Carlaw Avenue vations but you don’t have the money yet.’” Today, the East York campus lives on as the headquarters for campus. That’s when she approached Don Gray, a broadcasting pro- Centennial’s communications and arts programs. It wasn’t the first time that Schluyer had been in the building. fessor at the time, and asked what Centennial planned to do And Degrassi lives on with “Degrassi: Next Class” on Net- It wasn’t even the first intersection of the campus and Degras- with this space during the three years they were going to spend flix. si. Before 951 Carlaw Avenue was acquired by Centennial, it fundraising for renovations. Looking back on the show’s tenure in East York, Schluyer was the Toronto Teachers College. And Schluyer had once used “I said to him, ‘Well, would you like a tenant who might not said, “I remember it as a very happy experience and a wonder- space in the building to hold auditions for a certain pilot pro- have a lot of money to pay but could offer placement jobs for ful partnership between the folks at Centennial and ourselves.”