Volume 9 Issue 2 Summer 2013 TOBIAS HOUSE ATTENDANT CARE INC.
The Beacon
So Much To See and Do This Summer!
What’s On This Summer Front When Torontonians are finally able to shed the layers of the long, cold Resource Centre 2 winter - which, let’s be honest, was not particularly long or cold this year - this city really comes alive. Practically every weekend from Victoria Day What’s On cont’d 3 to Labour Day has a festival, charity run, or street fair, with lots more hap- Tobias Faces 4 pening during the week besides. We’ve put together a somewhat random, Beacon Stories 5 by-no-means exhaustive list of things to see and do around town, with an Beacon Recipe 6 emphasis on events that are free and outdoors.
Beacon Lifestyle 7 First up, outdoor movies. This is definitely a growth area in Toronto. Acknowledgements Back Open-air screenings seem to be everywhere, and are all free of charge. Why bother, in the age of Netflix? Why not? It’s different and fun! Don’t forget to bring snacks.
City Cinema: Cult Classics - Yonge Dundas Square. Check for Mission Statement: times and listings. Tuesdays at dusk. ydsquare.ca To Create Opportunities For Free Flicks - Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen’s Quay West. Independence And Choice of Lifestyle by Providing Innova- Wednesdays at dusk. harbourfrontcentre.com tive 24-Hour Personal Support TIFF In The Park - David Pecaut Square, King St. West, between Services for Individuals with Simcoe and John. Wednesdays at dusk. tiff.net Physical Disabilities. Christie Pitts Film Festival - Christie Pitts Park, Christie and Bloor Volunteer Board of Directors West, Sundays at 9. christiepittsff.com President: Stewart Davidson Ward 32 Movie Nights in the Park - various parks throughout Ward Vice President: Frances Mac- 32 Beaches/East York, including East Lynn, a couple of blocks east of Neil-Laflamme the Coxwell location. Various nights and times. Check Councillor Treasurer: Anna Marziliano Mary-Margaret McMahon’s website at councillormcmahon.com Secretary: David Meadows (Continued on page 2) Members at Large: Christie Ladner, Gaurav Marwaha, Neil Mercer, Chris- tene Rowntree, Andrew Tomcik Executive Director: Yona Frishman P a g e 2 Tobias house Tobias News - This Summer
Cultural festivals and events are always a big hit, especially given the price of tickets for most concerts and shows. And a little light culture is great for a staycation. Nothing heavy duty. Perfect for summer. Dusk Dances - Dance performances in a park setting, just as the sun goes down. Pay-what-you-can. 7 pm, July 30-August 4. Withrow Park, south of Danforth, between Carlaw and Logan. duskdanc- es.ca Summerworks Festival - Theatre, music, and performance festival of a more artistically adventurous bent. $15. August 8-18. Over a dozen venues. Check website summerworks.ca Toronto Chinatown Festival - Vendors, performers, and a street fair. August 24-25. East side of Spadina Avenue, from Dundas to College Streets. Toronto International Film Festival - Hundreds of movies, dozens of stars, and countless paparaz- zi. Oh the glamour! Tickets can be bought in packages, or individually ($23.50), and there’s a whole process to getting them, so check their site early. September 5-15. tiff.net
The Tobias House Resource Centre
The Tobias House Resource Centre provides programs and services that support people’s independ- ence and complement the attendant care support they receive. We work with individuals so they can find solutions to the barriers they face in their daily lives. Programs we currently offer:
The Barrier Free Access to Swimming Program provides attendant care support (Tobias House staff) to people with physical disabilities at four City of Toronto public pools. Support in the water is provided by Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Birchmount Bluffs Neighborhood Centre, and the Scadding Court Community Centre. The program is offered in the fall, winter, and spring. The Tobias House Fitness Program provides one hour fitness classes weekly to consumers during selected periods throughout the year. The Tobias House Consumer Grant Fund enables consumers to cover costs associated with ac- cessing a wider range of extra-curricular activities, equipment and other quality of life expenses. Our Volunteer Program matches consumers with volunteers on a one on one basis. Currently, we have five consumer-volunteer matches. We also host workshops and information sessions. In the past we held sessions including on Ombuds- man Ontario, financial planning, accessible reading technologies and accessible travel. If you have any ideas please let us know.
For more information on Resource Centre programs, activities and services contact us at 416- 690-8804.
Looking for Volunteers Tobias House is looking for volunteers. If you enjoy working with individuals on a one on one basis, or if you have a great telephone manner, we need you. Please call Constantine at 416-690-8804. Volume 9 Issue 2 P a g e 3 Tobias News - This Summer
Harbourfront Centre and Yonge Dundas Square have dozens of free events happening all sum- mer long. Check them out at harbourfrontcentre.ca and ydsquare.ca.
Miscellaneous Because there’s always a miscellaneous. Use Your Words: Summer Workshops for Emerging Writers - Writing workshops led by es- tablished writers, for ages 16-30. Saturdays 2-4:30. Reference Library, 789 Yonge St. torontopub- liclibrary.ca Live Green Toronto Festival - Green street market, concerts, a CD/DVD/book swap, ecowheels zone, kids' activities and more. Saturday July 27. Yonge Dundas Square livegreentoronto.ca Pedestrian Sundays in Kensington Market - Music, street theatre, etc. on streets closed to traffic. Sundays July 28, August 25, September 29, October 27 College St. south to Dundas West, Spadina Ave. west to Bellevue Ave. pskensington.ca Canada Job Expo - Not exactly a “fun” event, but if you’re looking for a job, there are five free workshops available to all who attend. July 30. North York Memorial Hall, 5100 Yonge St., at North York Centre subway. canadajobexpo.com Fan Expo Sports Show - Pop culture convention featuring gaming, horror, sci-fi, anime and sports. $10/day, kids free, (*Does not include admission to Fan Expo Canada Comic-con Show. They’re $25-$50) August 22-25. Metro Toronto Convention Centre 225 Front Street West fanex- posports.com Toronto Garlic Festival - Everything garlic, which surprisingly includes a lot. $5. September 22. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave., free shuttle from Broadview Station. torontogarlicfesti- val.ca
The Big Five (Six, if you count Pride, which will already have happened by the time of publication.) These perennial favourites draw huge crowds every year. Huge! Toronto Caribbean Carnival (formerly Caribana) - A month of events, culminating in the big pa- rade on August 3. July 9-August 4. The parade runs along Lakeshore Blvd., from Exhibition Place, for 3.5 km. torontocaribbeancarnival.com 25th Annual Beaches Jazz Festival - All kinds of jazz, from big band to latin. Concerts at Wood- bine Park, Kew Beach, and Beach Boardwalk. Huge StreetFest closes Queen St. East from Wood- bine to Beech Ave. 7-11pm July 25-27. July 19-28 beachesjazz.com Taste of the Danforth - Festival of Greek culture and food, with live music and Kids’ Funzone. August 9-11. Danforth Ave. from Broadview to Jones. tasteofthedanforth.com Canadian National Exhibition - 134 years and counting. It’s not summer without The Ex: Band- shell concerts, parades, the Air Show, the Midway, and more. $16 adults, children/seniors $12, un- der 4 free. August 16-Sept. 4. Exhibition Place. theex.com Scotiabank Busker Fest - International street performers, in support of Epilepsy Toronto. PWYC (pass the hat). Noon to evening, August 22-25. Yonge from College to Queen. torontobusk- erfest.com
Source: the internet P a g e 4 Tobias house Aside from the fact that they are both from Beacon Faces Coxwell, these two very different Beacon Faces share one thing. They both enjoy have somewhat unexpected interests.
Theresa Arand is quiet and assuming, with a shy but ready smile. She lives with Peter Goss, her husband of twelve years. They met at the coffee shop just downstairs at Coxwell, set up by a friend, “on a date, kind of.” She likes to read (mostly mysteries), listen to music (all kinds), and go to movies, concerts, and walks in the neigh- bourhood. Having grown up in Stratford, Ontario, Theresa moved to Toronto, first to the Gage, and then Tobias House. She likes Toronto, although she’d like it more if some things were more acces- sible.
One thing Theresa doesn’t like about Toronto is that there is only one accessible women’s shelter. A situation involving someone close to her made Theresa more aware of the plight of abused wom- en. She is looking to go back to school to study social work, hopefully at George Brown College, and eventually work in that field.
As for that unexpected interest? It’s karaoke. Most people need a bit of encouragement to get up in front of a room full of people and sing. Not Theresa; she loves it. She once sang Wind Beneath My Wings at her brother’s wedding, and had the whole room in tears. And Peter proposed to her at a karaoke bar. Just shows you never can tell.
Prati Khatiwada loves doing “weird and scary things”. One could even call her a bit of an adrenalin junkie. Zip- lining, mountain biking, roller-coasters, sky- diving…Things many people would be too scared to try, Prati does with barely a second thought. She loves the rush. Sky-diving, she says, was the “greatest single expe- rience” of her life. Shy and retiring is something you defi- nitely could not call her.
Prati has been at Tobias (Coxwell) for eight years, and she loves it. She came to Canada - which she also loves - from her native Nepal in 2004, where she was studying for her BA in sociology and working for a non-profit or- ganization. These days, work, a husband, and a 20-month -old baby, Mayan, whose name she has tattooed on her arm, keep Prati a very busy woman. Volume 9 Issue 2 P a g e 5 Beacon Stories
Turnabout by Zia Ladha
The hunt for relaxation under the sunny sky led Mary and Deborah to the park, where they enviously gazed at a group of children tossing a Frisbee to one another. Their envy built with each pass of the Frisbee, eventually leading Deborah to ap- proach the child leading the game and say, “Got room for one more?” asked Deborah Deborah could instantly tell from his expression he didn’t like that idea, so before he spoke she collected Mary and headed home to find her own Frisbee. Each wore mischievous smirks when leaving the park, for with that found Frisbee they would play their own game directly in view of those other children. “It’ll be here, if it’s anywhere” said Mary once arriving at her apartment There existed a storage closet filled with initially used and eventually forgotten sporting equipment. It was there that Mary referred, and with a lift and a shove aside of forgotten equipment she found that Frisbee. Zia Ladha, from Jarvis, has been writing for fifteen “Are you ready?” asked Mary while motioning for Deborah to follow years. His short stories have “Ready for what?” wondered Deborah while blindly following Mary appeared in The Brainy Bu- With Frisbee in hand Mary led Deborah back to the park. When reaching gler, a newsletter published there, they immediately began playing their own game of Frisbee directly in view by CHIRS, the Community of those children. Head Injury Resource Ser- vices. After the child leading his game tired he approached Deborah and said, “Got room for one more?”
Which way to Sussex? by Zia Ladha
“Toronto to Ottawa is beyond Wheeltrans’ jurisdiction,” I said, hoping Aliza, this trip’s organizer, arranged for alternate accessible transportation. “I’m ahead of you,” replied Aliza Amidst curiosity’s grip I said, “Tell me more!” “Meet outside my house at 8:00 tomorrow morning and it’ll make sense,” Once Aliza had finished speaking I began to turn away from her when my rumbling stomach prompted driving my wheelchair directly back home. When obeying my hunger it occurred to me how upholding tomorrow’s arrange- ment with Aliza meant utilizing Wheeltrans. Arranging for a bus arriving tomorrow morning at Aliza’s meant calling today. After greeted by a busy signal after each of my repeated attempts I eventually got through to a person. To that voice I then said, “I need a bus leaving from Sparkdale and arriving at 26 cedar crescent for 8:00 tomorrow morning,” As people steadily gathered outside Aliza’s house the next morning they each wore anticipation across their faces’. “Why have you gathered us all here?” I asked when first spotting Aliza. Aliza’s answer was a smile while pointing her finger. When shifting my attention in that direction all I could see was debris littering the air. When the debris settled I now noticed a bus initially obscured by that swirling debris. “There it is!” said a beaming Aliza “Is it accessible though?” Aliza only nodded her head, but because often people have varying degrees of accessibility. So I inspected it for myself, and with relief, now locked eyes with Aliza and asked, “Which way to Sussex?” P a g e 6 Tobias house Beacon Recipe It’s picnic and barbecue time! Here are two easy and delicious summer salads you can make ahead and take with you. Mediterranean Fusilli Salad Ingredients
12 oz (340 g) fusilli pasta Dressing: In bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, garlic, 1 zucchini, cubed cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. 1 can (19 oz/540 mL) romano beans, drained and rinsed In large pot of boiling salted water, cook fusilli until ten- 2/3 cup (150 mL) sliced, drained oil packed sun dried tomatoes der but firm, about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water; drain well and place in large bowl. Add zucchini, 3/4 cup (175 mL) thinly sliced fresh basil beans and tomatoes; pour dressing over top and toss to Dressing: combine. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.) Toss with basil just before serving. 2/3 cup (150 mL) extra virgin olive oil Serves 12. 1/4 cup (60 mL) red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin
1 tsp (5 mL) dried oregano
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt 1/4 tsp (1 mL) pepper
Green Mango Salad
Ingredients
1/3 cup (75 mL) chopped cashews or peanuts In skillet or toaster oven, toast cashews over medium heat until fragrant and golden, about 8 minutes; set 2 unripe mangoes, 2 lb/1 kg total aside. 1/3 cup (75 mL) chopped fresh coriander Cut pointy ends off mangoes. Set each mango on cut 1/3 cup (75 mL) chopped mint end. Using serrated knife, cut off peel. Cut flesh on either side of flat pit into thin slices; stack and cut into thin 2 tbsp (30 mL) lime juice strips. 4 tsp (18 mL) granulated sugar Dressing: In bowl, whisk together coriander, mint, lime 4 tsp (18 mL) fish sauce juice, sugar, fish sauce, oil and chili sauce. Add mangoes, red pepper and onion; toss to coat. (Make-ahead: Cover 1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil and refrigerate for up to 2 days.) Sprinkle with cashews.
1/4 tsp (1 mL) Asian chili sauce or hot pepper sauce Serves 6. 1 sweet red pepper, thinly sliced Source : Canadian Living Magazine 1 cup (250 mL) thinly sliced red onions Volume 9 Issue 2 P a g e 7 Beacon Lifestyle
The second annual SEAN ROSS MEMORIAL SUMMER CLASSIC is coming! It will take place on Saturday August 24th, from 2 to 5 pm, at the outdoor rink at Withrow Park, 725 Logan Avenue, just west of Pape and south of the Danforth, in Riverdale. Light refreshments will be served. There will be an entrance fee of $10 to cover expenses.
The first SEAN ROSS MEMORIAL SUMMER CLASSIC took place in August 2012 at the city outdoor rink at Scadding Court. Twenty-five friends and teammates from the Canadian Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association (CEWHA) and the Toronto Power Wheelchair Hockey League (TPWHL) enjoyed a joyous day of hockey in memory of a friend, raising $250 for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
This year, players hope to repeat the success of last year’s event, which was held to honour the memory of a great sportsman and friend, and to showcase this unique sport and the skills of its passionate players. For info: www.kneel67.wix.com/srmsc On Facebook: 2nd Annual Sean Ross Memorial Summer Classic, https://www.facebook.com/events/219944998145209/
Martin Wuori, from Coxwell, has started up a small service supplying gloves to consumers at a very reasonable price. Vinyl gloves, which all consumers supply for use by ILAs, can run as much as $10 a box if bought from the drug store. It can really add up. Martin saw a need, and has been selling boxes of the non-sterile, powder free medical exam gloves, for $4.50 a box. “It’s really more of a service than a business, with a small markup, mostly to cover costs,” he says. He has sold more than 120 boxes to several consumers from all three Tobias House locations since February.
The gloves come in small, medium, and large, and are certified to meet Health Canada guidelines for a Class 2 medical device. If you would like to order gloves from Martin, you can email him at [email protected], or call him at 416-694-9875.
Nutritional Info Mediterranean Salad cholesterol 0 mg Green Mango Salad cholesterol 0 mg Per serving: sodium 252 mg Per serving: sodium 318 mg calories 263 % RDI: calories 189 % RDI: protein 6 g calcium 3 protein 3 g calcium 3 total fat 14 g iron 16 total fat 6 g iron 8 saturated fat 2 g vitamin A 3 saturated fat 1 g vitamin A 71 carbohydrates 30 g vitamin C 15 carbohydrates 35 g vitamin C 137 fibre 4 g folate 41 fibre 4 g folate 18 TOBIAS HOUSE ATTENDANT CARE INC. Thank You
Tobias House I (695 Coxwell Avenue) Patrons ($5,000+) Tobias House II (84 Carlton Street) Robert Blakely, CitiBank Canada, Zev Frishman, Greenfield Ethanol Inc. Tobias House III (460 Jarvis Street) Benefactors ($1,000-$4,999) Tobias House Resource Centre (695 Wayne Kozun, Stephen Mimee, Rotary Club East York, The Coxwell Avenue) Family & Friends of the late Alfred J. Cockburn
Tobias House is filled with opportunities for everyone: Associates ($250-$999) Helen & Gordon Armstrong, G.A. Christoff, Susan & Stewart For Volunteering opportunities, Davidson, Desjardins Financial Security, Yona Frishman, Fr. Membership, Donations or Special Events Peter Knaapen, Frances MacNeil-Laflamme, Catherine Marsh, please contact Anna Marziliano Constantine @ (416) 690-8804 Friends (up to $249) For Job opportunities, contact Andrew Jardine @ (416) 690-3185 x 221 Sal Badali, Anita Baker, Bonnie Beverley, Kenneth Bona, Su- san Broad, Anne Bukovinsky, Susan Cavanagh, Gloria Corri- gan, Sylvester De Melo, Judy Denheyer, Eileen Donnelly- Casey, Ahren Estabrooks, Paul Halpern, Warren Laing, The Tobias House Attendant Care Inc. Magnes Group Inc., Margaret Newell, Joan Pape, Paula Rusak, Eleanor Shannon, Lino Sienna, Stoyles Carpentry, Andrew 611—695 Coxwell Avenue, Towcik, Josephine Tse, Henry Valcheff, Jon Wagner, Fran Toronto ON M4C 5R6 Wise, Janet Yukish
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