OMMUNIT JUDE C Y HOM ST. ES

Together in Community We Succeed

December 2011 Volume 19 Issue 2

PRESIDENT’S REPORT In This Issue: St. Jude Community Homes 2011 Annual General Meeting Accessibility for Everyone (December 11, 2011)

Gerrard Street Update Good afternoon everybody and welcome to this year‘s Annual New Photo ID General Meeting! Steps to a Healthy Heart This is a meeting that the Board looks forward to every year. It is a time when Aging Group – Hearing Loss the Board can get together with all of you to share a meal, and to get to know Tips to Prevent the Flu you better. The AGM also allows us to Calories in Tasty Drinks tell you about what we have been doing over the last year, and to tell you about Events in December some of the exciting things that we have planned for the coming year.

St. Jude‘s takes great pride in being able to provide a safe and Contributors: supportive environment for its residents. We believe that our strong emphasis on community is what separates us from Simon P., Susan, many other housing projects in Ontario. Julian, Rocan, Neil 2011 was another great year at St. Jude‘s due in no small part to the hard work and dedication of Angela and her staff. Please join me in thanking Angela and all of the staff for their hard work this past year.

The entire staff at St. Jude‘s has been critical to its success, but I want to take a minute or two to acknowledge the contributions of two particular staff members: Mare Bock and Greg Marentette.

As you know, Mare is the housing administrator for the Dundas and Milan sites. Greg is the chef at the Dundas site. Together, they are responsible for ensuring that all of you have a roof over your heads and food in your tummies. President’s Report (Continued)

Both Mare and Greg have been with St. Jude‘s for 20 years. I think we should reflect on that for a moment. 20 years!

This past year, we welcomed Jin Hu to St. Jude‘s board. Jin is an accountant at the firm Sobermans and we are very pleased to have her on the Board. Jin was recruited to take over the position of treasurer. Jim King has been our treasurer for the last several years but will be entering his last year on the Board. As a result, Jin will be our new treasurer going forward and Jim will assume the position of past treasurer.

It is with some sadness that we will be saying goodbye to four of our colleagues on the Board: Aldene Penteliuk, Camille Quenneville, Kim Robinson and Justin Geagea. All four will be retiring from the Board as of today.

Aldene is well known to most of you, particularly those of you who live at the Dundas and Milan sites. You will recognize her from monthly town hall meetings. Aldene is a resident at the Dundas site and has now completed her two-year term on the Board.

At St. Jude‘s, we place great importance on having residents sit as Board members. Their participation as Board members ensures that resident-specific issues are brought to the table and considered. It has been wonderful having Aldene on the Board. We will miss her, but I don‘t doubt we will continue to see her at monthly town hall meetings.

Camille and Kim – St. Jude‘s own dynamic duo – have both been on the Board for six years. Until last year, they were the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board. When I first joined the Board about two years ago, I was amazed at the high quality of leadership on the Board. Last year, I became the Chair and Andrew became the Vice-Chair. We have spent the last year trying our best to meet the very high standards that were set by Camille and Kim. They will be sorely missed.

Justin has been on the Board for three years. It has been wonderful having Justin on the Board. As a psychiatrist at CAMH, there is very little about the mental health sector that Justin doesn‘t know. Over the last three years, Justin has brought an invaluable perspective to our Board meetings. He, too, will be sorely missed.

All four of the departing Board members have left lasting impressions on St. Jude‘s. Please join me in thanking Camille, Kim, Justin and Aldene for their invaluable contributions as members of St. Jude‘s Board.

Today, we welcome two new board members: Pat Mueller and Rocan Bradosty. Pat is the executive director of the Homes First Society, a housing provider that is much bigger than St. Jude‘s. She has years of experience working in the housing sector and we are very fortunate to have her on our Board.

Rocan has been a resident at the Dundas site over the last couple of years. He will be taking over Aldene‘s position on the Board. Many of you may already know him. For those of you who don‘t know him, you will certainly have an opportunity to get to know him during future town hall meetings.

We are looking forward to a very exciting 2012.

As you may know, St. Jude‘s has been collaborating with the Christian Resource Centre to acquire five units at the new building located at 40 Oak Street. These five units will be administered by St. Jude‘s. We expect to take possession of the units in January or February. We are very excited about extending the St. Jude‘s network to an additional site.

Also, St. Jude‘s current strategic plan is due to expire at the end of March. We are working with Angela to schedule a strategic planning session to be held this spring. There have been many interesting developments in the supportive housing sector that we will have to consider as we sit down to plan St. Jude‘s future. The next strategic plan will be an important one.

Thank you for joining us this afternoon, and for giving me the opportunity to make this address. Please enjoy the food and fun this afternoon. Best wishes to everybody this holiday season.

Lucas Lung Chair of the Board of Directors, 2011

St. Jude’s Annual General Meeting took place this year on December 11, 2011 with a great turnout of residents, Board members, and staff. Good Neighbour Awards were presented to a number of residents (pictured) as a way to thank them and acknowledge their contribution to the community over the past year. Glen Murray, our local MPP, made an appearance and took time to speak with residents and answer their questions. Residents also presented each Board member with a poinsettia as a thank you for their continued hard work and commitment to making St. Jude’s a great place to live. A wonderful array of refreshments was then served and those who attended were able to celebrate the end of another successful year at St. Jude’s!

Accessibility Service Standard Takes Effect January 1, 2012

A new provincial policy that outlines a standard for providing customer service to those living with disabilities comes into effect January 1, 2012.

The Accessibility Standard for customer service applies to all organizations in Ontario with one or more employees. The customer service standard is about being prepared to deal with customers who are in different circumstances when they use your goods or access your services. It‘s about understanding that people with disabilities may have different needs. That can mean simply training a staff member to ask ―How can I help‖? and making small changes to how people with disabilities receive services. It‘s a new challenge but not necessarily onerous; it‘s something for all of us to learn and particularly important in preparing for the future when the aging population begins to experience greater challenges. According to the Ministry of Community and Social Services, one in seven Ontarians face barriers to accessing services. That number is expected to increase to one in five by 2021.

Within the context of the accessibility legislation, ‗consumer‘ means anyone– including residents, potential residents, support workers, family members, or the general public--who accesses service from our agency, inquires about our services, or who visits our buildings. Also, ‗service‘ is defined as the work or duties performed for the benefit of our residents. In addition, an individual‘s ‗disability‘ includes challenges (in addition to mental health) related to mobility, seeing, hearing, and learning.

St. Jude‘s is committed to ensuring that all people have equal access to our services. In doing so, the agency will meet the requirements of the new Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Residents were asked at the November house meetings to brainstorm ideas that could improve our accessibility practices. Residents came up with great ideas. Some changes have already taken place thanks to the input residents provided, such as elevator access signs and using all four tables at dinner to ensure people have more room to move around. On January 1st, a ―Consumer Feedback‖ form will be available for residents (and other people) to share comments or concerns regarding accessibility of our programs. In addition, Resource Workers will periodically ask residents questions about accessibility— for example during the semiannual OCAN assessment meetings.

The following are among other elements of AODA that could affect everyone at St. Jude‘s:

All communication needs to take into account a person‘s disability;

If required, a person with a disability must be permitted to bring a service animal and/or support person into the buildings;

Organizations must be familiar with (but are not required to provide) various assistive devices that individuals might use, such as white canes, hearing aids, walkers and speech generating devices. Staff should also know how to help residents apply for such devices;

Notices of any service disruptions—for example those affecting water, heat, elevator use or power—need to be communicated in ways that reach everyone, including people with challenges (for example seeing or hearing);

Staff will be trained in all facets of communicating with people who have a variety of disabilities, as well as interacting with their service animals and being familiar with the individual‘s assistive devices.

The customer service standard is just one of many standards to be fully implemented by 2025. Other standards under development are related to employment, information and communication, transportation, and the ―built environment‖. We look forward to meeting these future standards.

Residents and staff had a spooky good time at a Halloween party at Dundas. A variety of games were played including “pin the nose on the witch,” and a prize was awarded for best costume. The event ended with tasty treats and dancing to a special Halloween sound track. Vegetable Garden A Highlight At Gerrard Street

There have been many activities and events at the Gerrard Street (Independent Living) site of St. Jude‘s. Firstly, three residents have moved out recently, and three new residents have moved in. Secondly, the vegetable garden was a great success this summer. Also, we have had many social activities, the Science Fiction Club was well attended, and residents continued to enjoy the Coffee House and Good Food Box program.

The vegetable garden was greatly anticipated. Many residents wanted a garden, and had been talking about it since the site opened in 2007. Finally, earlier this year residents Michael and Margaret planted some vegetables in the allotted space.

Each resident participant had a patch in the side yard that they were responsible for. Their responsibilities included planting seeds and shoots, watering the patch and keeping it weed-free. Both residents kept the vegetables they grew, which included beans, peppers, strawberries, lettuce and celery.

Next year, the garden will begin again. The soil will be richer because the mulched leaves will provide the soil with nutrients. We are anticipating a more bountiful crop. People in are encouraged to grow their own fruits and vegetables by the City. Our own Councillor, Mary-Margaret McMahon, is also a keen supporter of local food initiatives.

In recent months, Kevin has organized many social activities, and his Saturday cooking classes are well attended. These are held about twice a month. Residents have also enjoyed the Science Fiction Club, organized by David. Many residents are well versed in science fiction and fantasy. Some of the movies we have seen are Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Time After Time and Planet of the Apes. Christmas related movies are planned for December.

The Coffee House and Good Food Box program continue to be positive. The latter provides healthy foods at very reasonable prices, delivered right to residents‘ front doors. Half a dozen residents take advantage of this program, which is co-ordinated by Wayne and Margaret.

This month, Gerrard residents and staff are having a Christmas tree decorating party, and their annual Christmas Dinner to celebrate and enjoy the holiday season. Simon P.

New Ontario Photo ID Card Has Many Uses

Many people have difficulty doing such things as opening a bank account or renting a video if they don‘t have a driver‘s license or a passport for proof of identity. Fortunately, the Ontario government has introduced a new photo identification card for residents over the age of 16.

The new card will allow people to have an easier time doing things like cashing a cheque, obtaining a credit card, boarding a domestic flight, returning merchandise to a store, obtaining hotel accommodations and renting videos. It can also help people access government services that require proof of identity, including voting in federal elections. About 1.5 million Ontarians do not have a driver's licence. Eight other provinces already have a similar photo ID card.

To apply for the new photo ID card, you can go to one of 20 Service Ontario centres that offer this service. (By December 31, 2012, 300 centres will offer the photo card service). Right now there are two locations in Toronto: 1025 Lake Shore Blvd East, and 47 Sheppard Avenue East, 4th Floor Unit 417. The cost of the card is $35 and it is valid for five years.

You are eligible for the Ontario photo card if you are a resident of the province, are 16 years of age or over and do not have a driver's licence. (If you have a driver's licence it will be cancelled as you cannot have both cards; this is to prevent fraud). When you apply, you must provide original identity documents that show your legal name, date of birth and signature--such as a birth certificate or a citizenship card. If you eventually apply for a driver's licence, you must turn in your photo ID card and it will be cancelled.

The new card is purple and looks similar to the Ontario driver's licence. It has your name, photo, signature, address, gender and date of birth. The top right corner is clipped and there is raised lettering on part of the card. Travelling into the United States by land or water with an enhanced photo card may happen in the future, but at present this isn't possible. Also, the card's security features are the same as the driver's licence to prevent fraud and identity theft.

An application form is needed for the new photo card and also a declaration from a guarantor, for proof of signature. Homeless or marginally housed applicants need to provide a recognized institution's address.

For more information on the new card, you can visit the Service Ontario web site at: http://www.ontario.ca/en/services_for_residents, or call 416-326-1234.

Susan

Taking Steps to Have a Healthy Heart

Did you know that your heart is a muscle that gets energy from blood carrying oxygen and nutrients? Having a constant supply of blood keeps your heart working properly. This was among the things we learned at a recent Discussion Group on heart health. The event at the Dundas building was attended by 10 residents and was facilitated by Judy. Information for the group came from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of web site--a very reliable source, of course.

Most people think of heart disease as one condition, but in fact heart disease is a group of conditions affecting the structure and functions of the heart, and has many root causes. Coronary artery disease, for example, develops when a combination of fatty materials, calcium and scar tissue called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to your heart. The plaque build-up narrows the arteries and prevents the heart from getting enough blood, says the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

So what you can do about heart disease? Well, according to the Foundation, this condition is preventable and manageable. If you‘ve been diagnosed with a heart condition, there are treatments to help you manage your illness. You can further reduce your risk by taking these heart-healthy steps: • Be smoke-free. • Be physically active. • Know and control your blood pressure. • Eat a healthy diet that is low in fat, especially saturated and trans fat. • Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. • Manage your diabetes if you have this condition. • Limit alcohol use. • Reduce stress. • Visit your doctor regularly and follow your doctor‘s advice. We talked about ways to reduce stress, and acknowledged that long-term stress can lead to mental illness, such as depression, for example. Group members said one of the best ways to control stress is to meditate, exercise, walk or do any other things that make you feel good and relaxed. So how do you know if you are having a heart attack? We learned it is important to recognize the signs of a heart attack so you can react quickly to save a life. The following are some of the signs: • Chest discomfort (uncomfortable chest pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, burning or heaviness); • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body (neck, jaw, shoulder, arms, back); • Shortness of breath; • Sweating; • Nausea; • Light-headedness.

On its web site, the Heart and Stroke Foundation advises anyone who is experiencing one or more of these symptoms to do the following: • CALL 9-1-1 or have someone call for you. Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone at all times. • Stop all activity and sit or lie down, in whatever position is most comfortable. • If you take nitro-glycerine, take your normal dosage. • If you are experiencing chest pain, chew and swallow one adult 325 mg tablet or two 80 mg tablets of ASA, which are also referred to as Aspirin. (Tylenol or Advil will not work in this situation). • Rest comfortably and wait for an ambulance with emergency medical personnel to arrive. One resident said it‘s better to do CPR on someone than to do nothing—even if you are not trained or CPR-certified--because you might save a life.

At the end we talked about how maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of heart disease. It was noted that portion control is very important. Judy said that most residents gain weight when they move to St. Jude's, not because of the meal program but from eating too much. She added that some people are able to lose weight later.

It was an interesting discussion and we learned a lot about the importance of preventing heart disease and controlling one‘s risk factors.

Rocan

Residents displayed their ample talents at a recent Talent Night event at Dundas. Above, Richard demonstrates one of his pieces of art, and Chris plays some tunes. Other skills shown included a card trick, singing, and rapping.

Aging Group Explores Hearing Loss

We had an interesting Aging Group recently on hearing loss and its implications. It was stated that this problem is the most common sensory impairment in adults over the age of 65, affecting more than 30% of Canadians in this age group.

Peter's handout was from the Public Health Agency of Canada and was entitled Hearing loss info-sheet for seniors. It was said that ―hearing loss can lead to withdrawal from family, friends and social situations.‖

What are some of the warning signs of hearing loss? These include: speaking louder than necessary in conversation, constantly asking for words to be repeated, straining to hear, misunderstanding conversations, favouring one ear over the other, and thinking that people always mumble. Other signs of hearing loss, said the article, include having difficulty hearing on the telephone, withdrawing from social contact, and hearing ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus).

We talked about a common hearing condition called presbycusis that reduces one‘s hearing of high-pitched sounds such as birds singing, bells ringing, and certain consonant sounds in speech. People with this disease often ―hear‖ but do not understand what is being said.

Following this we talked about ―conductive hearing loss‖ which blocks sound from getting through to the inner ear. According to the article, sounds seem to be quieter to people with this condition, but clear if the volume is loud enough. The person's own voice seems louder to them, so they will often speak more softly.

This was followed by talking about ―central deafness‖. This is damage to the hearing centres in the brain caused by stroke, head injury or lengthy high fever. A person with central deafness can often hear normally but has difficulty processing what is heard.

Following this we talked about ―head noises‖ (tinnitus). This is a common hearing related problem in which a person perceives sound when there is no external noise. The article said tinnitus sounds vary widely from person to person, and include ringing, buzzing, chirping, whistling, hissing or pulsing. For some people, the tinnitus is constant and has a significant effect on their lives. Tinnitus can also occur in someone with normal hearing, said the Public Health Agency article. It may be a warning sign that the inner ear is beginning to be damaged, said the article.

The Public Health Agency article stressed that hearing is important for one‘s personal safety and overall health. It advises people to be informed about the early signs of hearing loss, and to consult a doctor if they notice a change in their hearing ability. It is estimated that 1 in 10 Canadians has a hearing loss.

What are the causes of this problem? Some of them are the following: the aging process, noise exposure, heredity, middle ear, dysfunction, certain medications, neurological diseases or stroke, head injury, inner ear infection, in some cases tumours.

What can you do if you have a hearing problem? The article says you can ask your family doctor to refer you to an audiologist for a hearing test. You may also need to see an ear, nose and throat specialist if a medically treatable cause of the hearing loss is suspected. For the general public, it is recommended that seniors get a hearing test every two years.

How does one cope with hearing problems? The article said that many people have found hearing aids have improved their hearing. These devices are much better than they used to be. Some people with hearing loss have a hearing aid in both ears. There are other devices that can be used to compensate for hearing loss. These include a loud ringer or light on the telephone, having captions on television, and having a light that flashes when the door bell rings or when the fire alarm goes off.

We then talked about many issues pertaining to hearing loss and aging. Some of these were: How do I know if I have a hearing loss? How can I help a person with hearing loss? What can I do if I have trouble hearing? And finally, what device or treatments can help?

We finished by talking about the Canadian Hearing Society. It tries to ―remove barriers to communication, advance hearing health, and promote equity for people who are culturally deaf, oral deaf, deafened and hard of hearing.‖

We had a lively discussion about age and hearing loss, and we all learned something new. Maybe you have a topic relating to aging that you would like us to discuss. Come and enjoy the fun of learning something new.

Neil Top 10 Tips to Prevent The Flu Most health specialists agree that the flu shot is the most effective way to stop a virus in its tracks. Adding that to a healthy lifestyle that includes a regimen to build immunity is a great way to stay healthy right through until spring. Take a look at these Top 10 Tips to beat the flu: 1. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

2. Use a tissue, sleeve or elbow for a sneeze and cough since hands spread germs more quickly.

3. Don't touch your face in public until you've washed your hands.

4. Drink plenty of fluids to flush germs out of your system while you hydrate.

5. Get fresh air to beat the indoor recycled heat and to keep your body moist.

6. Take natural supplements to boost your immune system. A unique North American ginseng extract (sold as Cold-FX) has been shown to boost the immune system and reduce the risk of colds and flu by up to 89%.

7. Eat foods containing vitamin-boosting phytochemicals like dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits.

8. Do aerobic exercise regularly to pump oxygen from your lungs to your blood, increasing the body's natural virus-killing cells.

9. Cut out alcohol since it suppresses the immune system and dehydrates the body, slowing your recovery.

10. Relax quietly or meditate for at least 30 minutes every day to activate your immune system.

From News Canada: www.newscanada.com

A group of residents went to see a spectacular fireworks show and live music at for the opening of the Cavalcade of Lights. Right, Simon and Terrie get into the Christmas spirit by decorating the tree at Milan.

Many Calories Hidden in Tasty Drinks

At a recent Nutrition Group we learned about the hidden calories in liquids. The information came from a article with the following subheading: ―Our cups runneth over – as does our weight – with fattening beverage choices.‖

There are many drinks on the market. The article lists energy drinks, anti-energy ones, vitamin enhanced waters, and vegetable and fruit blends in exotic flavours. Examples of he latter are pomegranate, pineapple, acai, goji, and lychee. The article says there is a ―pervasive coffee culture‖ of cappuccinos, Frappucinos, double-doubles and triple-triples.

Often overlooked are liquid calories. When people are trying to lose weight, they often focus on eating less and exercising more, says the article. However, liquid calories are a huge problem for many Canadians. The article quotes a dietician from Toronto Western Hospital who says there‘s a misperception that if a drink is healthy—such as milk or juice—then the calories will not cause weight gain.

The Toronto Star article says Canadian men in their 30s and 40s get 16% of their daily calories from liquids. Women in that age group get 14.3%. However, ideally people should only get 5 to 10% of their daily calories from liquids. One problem is that liquid calories don't give a feeling of fullness the way solid food does. The body's hormone response that gives signals of fullness is blunted when the calories are drunk, says the article. As a result, liquid calories result in people putting on weight even though they are still craving food.

Most beverages, according to the article, are mainly composed of sugar. These drinks go quickly into the stomach, while solid food provides protein, fats and fibre that slow down ―gastric emptying‖ and digestion. The article, which quotes a public health professor, suggests that consuming fewer liquid calories may be more important than eating less when it comes to losing weight.

The article gives examples of how much sugar is in a typical 12-ounce beverage. Cranberry juice cocktail has 200 calories and the equivalent of 12 teaspoons of sugar. Orange juice has 170 calories and 10 tsp of sugar. Cola has 150 calories and 10 tsp. of sugar. And coffee with one sugar packet has 15 calories and 1 teaspoon of sugar.

At the Nutrition Group, a woman said poor people tend to add more cream and sugar to their coffee, because that is all they can afford. One man in the group has triple cream in his coffee and it says this has made him gain weight. Another man likes 10% cream, but said 5% is okay.

We learned that dieticians recommend people drink 8 glasses of water a day. Water helps people with diabetes by flushing our sugar. It hydrates the body and helps you lose weight. Water also flushes out salt, we learned.

We learned that one should try to eliminate sugar sweetened drinks, including regular soda, fruit drinks, and punch. They are big offenders. One example is Pepsi, which has 150 calories. A 16 ounce Snapple lemon tea has 170 calories, said the article. A 16 ounce V8 Tropical Blend Splash has 220 calories. A Tim Hortons 10 ounce hot chocolate has 240 calories. The article from The Toronto Star suggests eating your fruits and vegetables rather than drinking them in liquid form.

It was a very interesting Nutrition Group in which we learned about the importance of paying attention to what we drink, not just what we eat.

Susan

Activities and Events In December

Fri 9 – Sat 24. Multiple showings. The Christmas Story. A dramatization of the nativity story featuring a volunteer cast, professional choir, and organ accompaniment. Holy Trinity, 10 , 416-598-4521 Book your free ticket now at http://www.holytrinitytoronto.org/wp/ FREE (freewill offering only if you can afford it)

Christmas Carolling at The Library Come and sing the holiday classics. Everyone is welcome. Tues 20 at 10 am at Pape/Danforth Branch, 701 Pape Ave. 416- 393-7727 Fri 23 at 1 pm at Jane/Sheppard Branch, 1906 Sheppard Avenue West Sun 18 from 10:30 – 11:30 am. Harpist with Christmas Carols. Sunday service of lessons and carols. 416-694-4081 www.birchcliffbluffsUC.org Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, 33 East Road FREE

Tues 20, 27 at 6:30, 8 & 10 pm. Wed 21, 28 at 7 and 10 pm. Impatient. Improv Comedy. 1720 Queen St. West 416-238-7337 http://www.impatient.ca/shows/calendar/ The Tuesday shows are $5 and Wed shows are FREE.

Mon 19. Doors open at 7 pm. Show starts at 7:30 pm. Laughing Like Crazy Holiday Show. Treat the December blues with an extra strength dose of standup comedy about mental health at the Laughing Like Crazy Holiday Side Splitter. The Supermarket, 268 Augusta Ave (near College/Spadina) $10 or Pay What You Can

Dec 31 and ongoing. 9 pm. Tam Tam Drum Circle. Open drum circle and dance, bring your own percussion. Xing Dance Studio, 452 College myspace.com/torontotamtam $5

Allan Gardens Christmas Flower Show. Regular hours are 10 am – 5 pm. Hours. Candle lighting is from 5 pm until 7 pm. 19 Horticultural Avenue 416-392- 7288 FREE

Dec 22 at 2:30 pm. Hanukkah Party. Stories, songs and more to celebrate Hanukkah. Toronto Public Library, Wychwood Branch, 1431 Bathurst St. 416- 393-7683 FREE

Sun 25 from 10 am – 2 pm. Hanukkah Family Fun Day. Beth Tzedec hosts our third annual Family Fun Day. This year it falls on the fifth day of Hanukkah. Activities for children of all ages: dreidel making, latke-eating, crafts, storytelling, a drumming circle, and more. Beth Tzedec, 1700 Bathurst Street 416-781-3511 x 239 www.beth-tzedec.org $10 per person (lunch available at extra cost)

Rainbow Cinemas still has $5 Tuesdays. All ages. All day. www.rainbowcinemas.ca Weekend Screenings in December. Every Sat & Sun at 2 pm. (except Dec 24 & 25). Daily Screenings from Tues Dec 27 to Sun Jan 8 at 2 pm. (except Jan. 1). HOLIDAY SCREENING PROGRAM with MEDIATHEQUE ON ICE. Visit us over the holidays to watch new releases, classics, wintry and holiday-themed animated movies — all for FREE! NFB Mediatheque, 150 John St. (at Richmond St. West) 416-973-3012 www.nfb.ca/mediatheque FREE

Fri 31. New Year's Eve Bash at Nathan Phillips Square. Citytv presents this free, annual outdoor concert and New Year‘s Eve event, with some of Canada‘s top Canadian musical talent and midnight fireworks. This has traditionally been one of Toronto‘s best family-oriented New Year‘s Eve extravaganzas. Join thousands of others at Nathan Phillips Square. Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St. West FREE

Fri 31 from 7 pm – midnight. New Year’s Eve Celebration. Scarborough Civic Centre (Rotunda), 150 Borough Drive (McCowan & Ellesmere) 416-396-7766 [email protected] FREE

Thur 22 from noon – 4 pm. North York Women’s Centre Holiday Party. Snacks, holiday craft making, small gift give-away. NYWC, 2446 Dufferin St. 416- 781-0479 www.nywc.org FREE

Sun 25 from 1 – 4 pm. Gerstein Centre Christmas Day Open House. Turkey dinner, Christmas gifts. Everyone Welcome. 100 Charles Street East 416-929- 0149 FREE

Wed 28 at 6 pm. Meditation Toronto’s Annual Christmas / New Years Party. We will have an enlivening meditation, a delicious vegan meal and a thought provoking talk from internationally renowned Yoga Master Balakilya das who will speak on "Meditation, Karma and Reincarnation". United Church, 300 Bloor Street West 416-539-0234 FREE (Please register so we can know how much food to prepare.) http://meditationtoronto.com/christmas_party.html

Runs until January 8. Tuesdays to Sundays, from 12 to 4 pm. December 24 and 31 from 12 to 3 pm. Christmas in the Park. Discover the magic of Christmas in the winter wonderland surroundings of and enjoy a tour of . Colborne Lodge (south end of the High Park, just north of ) 416-392-6916 http://www.facebook.com/colbornelodge Adults $5.71, Seniors/Youths $3.81, Children $3.33 (plus tax).

Mackenzie House, 82 Bond Street 416-392-6915 Until Jan 8, 2012. Tuesdays to Fridays from noon to 4 pm. Saturdays & Sundays from noon to 5 pm. December 24 and 31 from noon to 3 pm. Closed Dec 25, 26, and Jan 1. A Victorian Toronto Christmas. Take a step back in time to Victorian Toronto and experience the magic of a traditional Christmas in an 1859 row-house. Saturday mornings you can print a seasonal greeting card on the 1845 printing press in the print shop (10 – noon). Adults: $5.71

Dec 4, 24, 27 and 31. Jan 2 – 8. Various times. A Regency Christmas in the Valley. Early 19th century historic homes decorated with evergreen garlands, the "kissing bough" hanging in the Helliwell parlour, apples, candles and mistletoe. Enjoy festive desserts such as "Whim-Wham" and "Hedgehog Tipsy Cake." Museum, 67 Pottery Road 416-396-2819 Adults: $5.24 Children: $2 Youth/Seniors: $3 (plus tax) http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=81475.)

High Park Walking Tours. Moderately paced, naturalist-led walking tours. Meet at the benches just south of Grenadier Café and Teahouse in High Park. 416- 392-0729 [email protected] Free (donations always welcome)

Sat 31. 1 – 4 pm. New Year’s Eve Labyrinth Walk. A labyrinth is a pattern with a single winding path that leads from the entrance to the centre. Timothy Eaton Church, 230 St. Clair Ave. West [email protected] For other labyrinth walks held regularly in Toronto at various locations: http://www.labyrinthnetwork.ca/index.htm FREE

Wed 21 from 6:30 – 8 pm. Parade starts at 6:30 pm. Winter Solstice. Festival and Lantern Parade. Celebrate the return of light on the longest, darkest night! The Kensington Market Solstice is a participatory event. Make a lantern (details below), bang a drum, wear a costume or carry a puppet. Gather at Oxford and Augusta St. (in front of Exile). Lantern-making on Sun 12 from 11 am – 5 pm at Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St. (Workshop is PWYC with suggested $10 to cover cost of materials) 416-598-3729 http://redpepperspectacle.wordpress.com/festival-of-lights/ FREE

Dec 21. Lantern and Peace Flag Procession 6:30 pm sharp! Potluck Dinner at 7 pm. Concert at 8 pm. Social gathering at 9 pm. The Longest Night: Winter Solstice Concert and Celebration. The Children‘s Peace Theatre, 305 Dawes Road 416-752-1550 http://www.yelp.ca/events/east-york-the-longest-nightwinter- solstice-concert-and-celebration Lantern workshops will take place at Children's Peace Theatre on Sat 17 and Sun 18 from noon – 4 pm. $5 a lantern. RSVP for lantern making at 416-752-1550 FREE

Compiled by Julian from the C/S Info Centre Bulletin