ww The East York ALL IN THE FAMILY n Singing up a storm at OBSERVER the DECA fair Page 3 Serving our community since 1972 Vol. 45, No. 7 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, September 23, 2016

n COMMUNITY East York gets its chance to shine as a cultural hotspot

By RAQUEL RUSSELL ent events and performances that will The Observer make up the Hotspot to come. Groups worked together around What makes East York East York? large tables to brainstorm areas of inter- That question will be answered next est. Representatives from organizations year when the Cultural Hotspot, a four- such as the Public Library and month summer program that launched the Youth Council spoke of what spe- in 2014, turns its attention to East York. cifically makes East York great. In 2017, it will showcase heritage, “This is the kind of program we need businesses and community members that has the city’s support and all the that make the community unique. peripheral partners coming together to “It’s to shine the cultural spotlight really make a concerted effort to say, on a particular area and help spark new ‘Look in every single corner of our cultural activities within a community huge, beautiful city,’” Oleksuik said. and share it with the rest of the city,” “We’re more than the core. It takes said Janet Davis, the city councillor for all of us and everything going on to Ward 31/Beaches-East York. “What we make Toronto Toronto.” hope to do is to help to support new art- “Sometimes people are sort of com- ists and build on the infrastructure and fortable in their little bubble and they capacity we already have for arts in the traverse in certain areas. People make community.” jokes about not going north of Bloor The Hotspot is an initiative put to- or over the Don. We want to give them gether by Toronto Arts and Cultural reasons to do that.” Services. The program works with oth- Projects that are highlighted for next er city divisions, local organizations year include SPARK, an initiative spe- Yeye Zhu /// The Observer and Tourism Toronto to bring more cifically for the Hotspot. SPARK helps Papito Wilson, who lost his leg in 1995, participated in his first Terry Fox Run on focus to an area. Since its 2014 launch new local artists and provides access to Sunday at Wilket Creek Park. in Scarborough, the Cultural Hotspot funding. moved to Etobicoke in 2015 and North “It’s intended to provide small grants York in 2016. to new artists who may for the first time Running for a Canadian icon Now it’s East York’s turn, as dis- want to generate artistic and creative cussed at a public meeting held on activity,” Davis said. By YEYE ZHU origanizers, “and the Canadian pub- cancer, spoke about the importance Sept. 14 at the East York Civic Centre. When asked if she sees this initiative The Observer lic continues to support (this) Cana- of cancer research and fundraising. “Toronto’s more than just down- continuing for a long time, the council- dian icon.” “You can help someone else by town,” said Tanya Oleksuik, commu- lor was optimistic. Papito Wilson acknowledges that Kinna Lin, 78, is a breast cancer what you went through,” he said. He nications manager for East York’s East “It’s a tremendously successful pro- a 1995 accident “changed my life.” survivor. She participated in the Terry thinks it’s a way to give back what End Arts. “We know that, but not ev- gram,” she said. “It brings a lot of new But it didn’t slow him down. Now Fox event as part of a team, the North he has received after being diagnosed erybody does.” cultural and economic activity to com- 51, Wilson has learned to play wheel- America Taiwanese Women’s Asso- with cancer four years ago. The Hotspot Connect event began munities and has been a tremendous chair basketball, sitting volleyball, ciation. Some members of the team Lewis brought his mother, his wife with a “sound performance” in the success at highlighting areas in the city para-rowing and wheelchair tennis. are in their 70s and 80s and have tak- and his two children to the event. He centre’s council chamber. The per- who have not had the attention that On Sunday, for the first time, Wil- en part in the run for 12 years. pointed out that family gave him a formance gives an idea of the differ- they ought to have.” son participated in the 36th annual “We feel it’s very meaningful to great deal of support during his treat- Terry Fox Run at Wilket Creek Park, show our support,” Lin said. ment. at the northwest tip of East York. Lin added that the Terry Fox Run “My parents made it to all my che- “It’s a great experience to do some- is also a good way to narrow cultural mo sessions, except for one, which I thing to support others,” he said. differences and “merge into the Ca- tease them about,” Lewis said. The Wilket Creek Terry Fox run nadian society.” Don Valley West MPP — and On- is among the largest in the country. The Wilket Creek Park run orga- tario Premier — Kathleen Wynne Since it began in 1980, it’s raised nizers invited some inspiring guest also participated in the Wilket Creek $10 million. speakers to share their stories about run. “I think the memory is Terry Fox,” Terry Fox and cancer. “It’s a great community event,” the said Jonathan Selmen, one of the Justin Lewis, a survivor of colon premier said. Police looking for missing E.Y. man, 67 By OBSERVER STAFF area. beige and yellow short-sleeved dress McCarron shirt and black pants. Police are requesting the public’s is described as Police are concerned for McCar- assistance in finding a missing senior 5’6”, weighing ron’s safety. in the East York area. 160-165 pounds, They ask that anyone with infor- Officers from 54 Division say that clean shaven, mation call 54 Division at 416-808- Raquel Russell /// The Observer John McCarron, 67, was last seen at with short, white n McCARRON 5400; or notify Crime Stoppers at around 12:50 p.m. on Monday near hair and brown 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at ‘Sound performers’ helped open the Cultural Hotspot the Coxwell and Mortimer avenues eyes. He was last seen wearing a www.222tips.com. Connect event at the East York Civic Centre on Sept. 14. 2 NEWS The East York Observer /// Friday, Sept. 23, 2016

POLICE & WHAT’S FIRE UP IN E.Y. Senior taken to hospital with burns Lest we forget after fire in Donlands Avenue building This Sunday, Sept. 25, there will be a candlelight ser- An elderly woman was taken to hospital vice and memorial with severe burns after an overnight fire in march in honour a high-rise building located on Donlands of Canadian sol- Avenue near Cosburn on Sept. 8. The fire diers who have occurred in a second-floor unit of the build- taken their own ing at around 12:30 a.m. Firefighters and lives. The march, paramedics arrived and rushed the woman, begins at 6:30 in her 60s, to hospital. The woman is said p.m. at the inter- to have been burned over possibly 30 per section of Gamble cent of her body. The cause of the fire is Avenue and Tod- still yet to be determined, but fire officials morden Lane. The are examining the possibility of carless candle-lighting smoking as a factor. No other injuries were memorial will be- reported. Courtesy of Liam Racine gin around 7:15 p.m. A photograph from creative artist Liam Racine’s exhibition, entitled “Lo- golepsy,” which is showing in the second-floor Corridor Gallery of Cen- East Yorkers remember former tennial College’s East York campus until this Sunday, Sept. 25. Gogh-ing to the police chief William McCormack drawing studio Feeling the urge to East Yorkers were among those who paid Student combines photos express yourself? tribute to the late Toronto police chief Wil- “Open Drawing liam McCormack after his death on Sept. 8. Studio” is back “He was a true man,” said Keith Schultz of at Centennial Col- East York, adding that his former colleague and obsession with words lege’s East York was “always true to his word and always By NATHAN VAZ at the Carlaw Avenue college campus, said he’s campus, 951 Car- cared about the people of Toronto, espe- The Observer in awe of Racine’s work. law Avenue, every cially his family.” Schultz added: “You could “I think it’s fabulous,” McClyment said. “Here Monday from 6 to tell he had massive respect from everyone A picture is worth a thousand words — or at he’s taking the art of photography and layering 9 p.m. Classes are he worked with — not just because of his least a couple of dozen for artist Liam Racine. it with a whole other in- open to the pub- rank, but people respected him for his posi- In his gallery exhibition entitled “Logolepsy,” terest. It’s beyond the lic and you can tive attitude and who he was as a person in now showing at Centennial College’s East York conventional photograph. pay either $5 per general.” campus, Racine brings ordinary words to life by The photographs become session or $15 to McCormack was chief accompanying them with defining photos. theatrical backdrops for attend all eight of what was then the “The whole show is about my obsession with the words he chose to classes. Drop-ins Metro Toronto Police words and lust for knowledge,” Racine said. “It’s use.” welcome. from 1989 to 1995 how each word, any individual word or a collec- At just 20 years of age — capping a 35-year tion of words can impact you.” and having already done (Board) game on tenure with the force. Racine is able to portray these words in an in- gallery showings interna- He was laid to rest teresting way. Instead of just reading a particular n RACINE tionally, Racine hopes to Love a good chal- after a funeral ser- word, guests are able to visualize the meaning use Logolepsy to advance lenge? Youth be- vice held at St. Paul’s of the word through the aid of his creative pho- his photographic pursuits. tween 11-18 are n McCORMACK Basilica downtown tographs. “Photography is a career that I need to be in.,” invited to spend on Sept. 12. Among The artist notes that he chose to display his he said. “It’s more than a passion at this point. two Wednesdays those attending were photographs in black and white instead of in co- My next step is to continue to tell my story and a month playing the current chief, Mark Saunders, and May- lour, to focus on the words and the story that they other people’s stories through a captured mo- board and vid- or John Tory, who issued a written state- tell. ment.” eo games at S. ment saying that McCormack will be always “I love the fact that with one simple click you Logolepsy is open and free to the general pub- Walter Stewart be remembered for “his dedication to serv- can capture an emotion,” Racine said. “You can lic until this Sunday, Sept. 25. The exhibition branch of the ing and protecting residents of Toronto”. tell a story in a photograph.” is in the second-floor “Corridor Gallery” of the public library, McCormack had five children, four of whom David McClyment, the coordinator of fine arts campus at 951 Carlaw Avenue. 170 Memorial became police officers. Park Ave. The first His son, Michael McCormack, is currently gaming session is the president of the Toronto Police Associ- Oct. 5, 11:45 a.m. ation. until 12:30p.m. “It’s not the position that you achieve in Bring your game life,” Michael said in his eulogy. “It is the face! person that you become that will define you. That was my dad’s legacy.” All about that baste Early-morning fire wakes residents Tired of eating mac and cheese Two people were taken to hospital for every night? Drop smoke inhalation from a fire near Pape into St. Luke’s and Cosburn avenues early in the morning Anglican Church, on Sept. 15. Firefighters were called to 904 Coxwell Ave., the scene of a house that was engulfed in every Sunday at 4 flames. It is believed that the fire started in p.m. for beginner’s the basement. Officials say the fire originat- cooking classes. ed at 7:45 a.m. It was contained by around Learn to cook with 9 a.m. Neighbours were evacuated and Evangelo Sipsas/// The Observer the group and taken to William Burgess Public School. The share a meal. All cause of the fire remains unknown, but po- Yellow is for hello material and food lice believe it was accidental. Staff at the East York campus of Centennial College unveiled a new, provided are free. bright yellow “friendship bench” in the courtyard of the Carlaw Avenue ~ Sanjeev building on Wednesday. Friendship benches are popping up at schools Wignara- ~ Justin Vieira and Nathan Vaz ~ Chelsea Ward around the world to promote friendly chats — and mental health. The East York Observer /// Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 NEWS 3 Artists display unique creations at Lynn Park By KAITLYN SMITH talgic touch. The Observer The fair was set up into two “S” formations. Sliding down The Danforth East Arts Fair the line from Prior was Gord n GOSAL propped up its tents in East Falk, a wood carver. The re- Lynn Park last weekend, and tiree-to-be spends his time showcased some of the best off whittling wood under the local talent and artists. name “Re-turn Designs,” and Textile sellers, soap makers, this is his sixth year at the fair. jewellers, photographers and “I release the inner beauty artists of different kinds came of the wood,” said Falk. And out to showcase and sell their the crafts are as quirky as their products at the fair, which maker. was held Saturday-Sunday, “I guess this could be used Sept. 17-18. It was sponsored for pet ashes,” he said, open- by DECA, the Danforth East ing a slim, topped jar. Community Association. Melanie Ramsay and Melis- It was Kirk Prior’s first time sa Peretti have been organiz- as a vendor at the fair. He’s a ing events and coordinating local sculptor, using reclaimed vendors for the DECA fair wood from renovations and since 2010. Each year they old houses to build his abstract receive a list of artists’ appli- pieces. cations submitted as potential “I like aged things. There’s vendors, who are then chosen a nice patina to them,” said by a jury. This year, about 80 Prior. “I believe (the wood) per cent of the artists are locals deserves to live on instead of from the East York area — just going into a landfill.” about 60 per cent of whom are The origins of each piece of returning vendors. wood aren’t known, and piec- “What we find is artists are es from different areas all go asked to donate their talents into one sculpture. But Prior and not get paid for it,” said Kaitlyn Smith/// The Observer thinks it might be a good idea Peretti. “We’re very adamant to start cataloguing where they in seeing artists paid for the Jenn Taylor and her daughter provide their rendition of the Bruno Mars song “Uptown Funk,” at come from to add to the nos- value of their craft.” the Danforth East Arts Fair held last weekend. Local hospital provides dental care for low-income families

By JACQUELINE THETSOMBANDITH anesthesia)… because the presentation of “Sometimes we say that this is my bubble sure.” The Observer cavities is so severe in this demographic.” gum mask,” said Romain, describing the an- The program is still small, running only a Romain believes everyone should have the esthesia mask. “Why don’t you blow bubbles few days each month. Stumpo said they’re A new program at Michael Garron Hospital right to proper dental health care. through my bubble gum mask?” still working through the process of securing (MGH) is giving children from low-income “Oral health is a part of general health,” she General anesthesia can benefit children funding from the Ministry of Health and the families a reason to smile. said. “It is a vital part of health care.” undergoing dental procedures because it Toronto Central Local Health Integration Project O.R. Smile offers a variety of com- Carmine Stumpo, vice-president of pro- lessens the anxiety of going through multiple Network. plex dental procedures – everything from cavi- grams at MGH, said the East York community procedures at different times. In some cases, “We aim to target about 150 kids per year,” ty treatments to extractions to root canals – to is “very diverse and includes some of the most for example, children walk in with cavities in he said. local children between the ages of two and 18 impoverished areas of the city.” Because of every tooth and having this dealt with under Since the program started, children have re- whose families cannot easily afford such care. that, there was a need for a program that could general anesthesia can alleviate some of the ceived faster care, which brings relief to a lot It’s the first project of its kind in East York. make medical procedures available to families trauma. of parents. Romain talked about some children “What we’ve noticed is that there has been “that would otherwise struggle to have this “If you have to do a lot of work... if their who were able to gain weight because they a preponderance of (tooth) decay in children,” happen.” Under the program, pediatric dentists case involves multiple extractions... that is were finally able to eat properly again. said Dr. Aisha Romain, a pediatric dentist and the MGH operating room team work something that would be very difficult for a She said Project O.R. Smile allows pedi- participating in the project. “There’s some together to perform various surgeries under two- or three-yearold to do,” Romain said. “It atric dentists to support the more vulnerable incredibly long waiting times (for general general anesthesia. is less traumatic (using general anesthesia) for members of the East York community.

Evangelo Sipsas/// The Observer Are your ears burning? Some East York students observed a seasonal tradition on Wednesday: a campus corn roast at Centennial College on Carlaw Avenue. To help welcome the students back to school, staff tossed and turned the ears on big barbecues and then handed the cobs over to the students to munch. 4 FEATURES The East York Observer /// Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 Young tenor does a tricky balancing act Charles Sy shares his experience of growing up in the GTA’s music arts scene By CHARLOTTE PUN Even with his considerable gifts, Sy acknowl- The Observer edges that the life of an opera singer — like many artists — can be difficult. For one thing, There’s a rising opera star living in the East there are the countless hours of training and York area — but you probably wouldn’t have practice. Sy acknowledged that he sometimes predicted it from his youth. feels overwhelmed by the amount of work that And he wouldn’t have either. he has to put into his operatic career. Charles Sy (pronounced “see”) moved over He added that besides the long hours, an the summer from the Danforth-Woodbine operatic career involves a “nomadic lifestyle” neighbourhood to a home a few blocks south- that often requires travel, and that can also put west of Danforth and Jones. But his profession- a strain on relationships and personal life. But al “home” is split between the Canadian Opera he’s still hopeful of one day balancing his sing- Company’s non-performance headquarters on ing with settling down and having a family life. Front Street near Parliament, and the Four Sea- “We live in a world now where there is so sons Centre on University Avenue. much pressure on focusing your efforts on ei- It was there that he helped close out the ther your personal life or your career,” Sy said. COC’s 2015-2016 season as Condulmiero in “To me, it’s so inspiring to see successful peo- the Rossini opera Maometto II. But the stage of ple who have found a healthy balance between the grand auditorium and the good reviews that the two that really worked for them, and that’s he and the production garnered aren’t the situ- something I hope to one day achieve.” ation that this young tenor — just over a year And then there’s the conflict between the on- out of the University of Toronto — imagined stage life of Sy, the up-and-coming opera star, himself in as a child and teenager. and the natural shyness of Charles, the young- He grew up in an extended family of doctors ster. He buffers those two contrary pulls with a and lawyers, and as a youth, he was thinking very practical outlook. of cardiology. So at Cawthra Park Secondary “I like to joke sometimes that my job involves School in , he focused on courses Courtesy of William Ford Photography me being extremely vulnerable to the world to prepare him for university science and an Just 14 months out of the opera program at the University of Toronto, and exposing myself and who I am to everyone eventual career in medicine. Charles Sy is now singing for the Canadian Opera Company, the nation’s around me, and having everyone tell me what Looking back, he says he was a shy kid any- premier ensemble. I’m doing wrong,” Sy said. “At the end of the way, and he didn’t picture himself in the spotlight. day, I have to put myself out there. I acknowl- Still, there were hints of what was to come really inspired me to catch a glimpse into this a COC mainstage production, as well as roles in edge that I’m a product and I have to make — even when Sy was a very young child. Like world of training to be a professional opera COC mainstage productions.” someone else money. As much as this is about singing along to children’s television programs. singer,” Sy said. “It was just seeing those young Sy said one word helps explain what makes art and as much as I am as an artist, I still need “My parents would play Barney tapes for me singers who were a step above me, and seeing opera unique compared to other forms of sing- to make someone money. This is a business.” and I would always sing along,” he recalled in their passion and drive that made me go…. ing: resonance. He said opera singers spend But it’s also personal. an interview, “and as soon as the Barney tapes ‘This is something I would really love to try.’” years developing the vocal ability to create “Like most experiences, you either benefit were over, I would start screaming and crying The University of Toronto followed Caw- “optimum resonance.” Successful opera singers from it or it can hinder you. It’s just like how instantly.” thra, culminating in a master’s degree from have learned to create beautiful sound that can adrenaline in a performance can hinder you like A later childhood achievement was his thor- the Faculty of Music’s opera performance pro- be clearly heard, with no amplification, over an nerves or it can give you energy to give an ex- ough memorization of the entire Disney movie gram. But Sy hadn’t even officially completed entire orchestra and across a cavernous opera citing performance. It all depends on how you Aladdin, and his ability to speak and sing his graduate school when he won first place in the house full of people. take it,” Sy said. “Unlike other instruments, own version of the entire soundtrack on long car Canadian Opera Company (COC) Centre Stage “To me, it is the extremely visceral and full- singing is something very personal, because it’s rides. Sy now thinks that singing and piano les- Ensemble Studio Competition, along with the body experience that makes me love opera,” Sy your voice and it’s your body. Your instrument sons helped him get through some rough child- competition’s Audience Choice Award. It was a said. “It is interesting and moving that people is your body. When someone tells you, ‘I don’t hood patches, like his mom’s serious illnesses national competition that involved seven final- push their voices to the extreme, but in a very like your voice,’ it is very easy to take it as ‘I and the separation of his parents. ists participating in a weeklong boot camp and healthy and beautiful way.” don’t like you.’” It was later, as a teenager, that Sy’s singing concert in Toronto, and Sy’s win got him a place But there’s something else to opera, he added, As for that shyness: really began to take hold. One factor was the in the COC’s Ensemble Studio. and that’s the component of musical theatre: “At heart, I wouldn’t consider myself as shy influence of the highly regarded music program “Members of the Ensemble Studio receive a “The virtuosity and the Herculean nature of anymore, but I am a person who likes to keep at his Mississauga high school, Cawthra, one of blend of advanced study and practical experi- it is exciting, but opera singers also are story- to himself. My natural instincts aren’t to take the leading arts secondary schools in Canada. ence,” explains the COC website. “In this one- tellers and actors that must be able to have their huge risks and put myself out there,” Sy said. Another was the Youth Choir, in which to-three-year program, singers receive vocal, techniques so lined up that they can commu- But when he competed for that spot in the COC he was the youngest chorister — a 15 year-old theatrical and practical career development…. nicate with an audience — while at the same Ensemble Studio, “I wasn’t scared at all. I felt among 20-somethings with university degrees. understudying major roles, the annual Glencore time insisting on extreme particular demands so comfortable up on-stage. I was so happy — “It was through that experience that I met all Ensemble Studio School tour, art song recitals, from their instrument.” That “instrument” is, of not because I’d won, but because I was so com- these people at such a young age…. It actually and a special Ensemble Studio performance of course, the singer’s voice. fortable with myself and being a singer.” Local gaming store owners refuse to follow digital trends By CARMEN TORTORELLI Now they’re concentrating on Gameswap. cent in 2010 to 56 per cent in 2015. David Davidovic, 21, is a university The Observer The store is organized by genre: its vinyl col- Those numbers don’t faze Kachmar. student who prefers to buy his games as a lection is in the back, while elsewhere you’ll “I’m not a supporter of digital whatsoever physical copy. The video game industry may be transi- find comics, limited-edition collectibles because it’s not a physical item anymore. “I don’t see the point in paying the same tioning toward a digital environment, but and hundreds of video games representing You can’t feel or see it. I believe that’s why it price for something that isn’t tangible,” he that doesn’t mean every local gaming store is decades of different console generations. ruined the PC world,” he said. said. “If you’re lowering the cost by cutting following suit. It was designed this way on purpose. “The next systems will be digital and out shipping and production of the disc itself, Nader Kachmar and Damien Whiteley “We took a long time decorating this online only because they have the next gen- then why am I still paying the same price for have known each other since they were 10 place,” said Kachmar, who owns Gameswap. eration of kids used to it. They’re all on their it?” years old. Now 34, they work with each other “We don’t hire anybody. We do this ourselves laptops and tablets downloading games.” Kachmar and Whiteley aren’t worried at Gameswap, a store on Danforth Avenue because we’re artists at heart.” Digital video games can be installed directly about the increase in digital sales because in East York that sells new and retro video Whitely notes that the “shop isn’t just a to your PC or console and played as soon as they focus on retro games. games, as well as collectibles. place for people to come by or look. It’s an they’re released. Digital stores such as Steam “True gamers will always go back to play- “Music is how we found each other after entertainment hub. It’s this guy’s (Kach- have sales on games throughout the year. ing the old stuff. If you’re just buying sys- 10 years,” Whiteley recalled. “I moved away, mar’s) dream.” However, depending on your Internet plan, tems and waiting for that one game to come and I was looking for him for a while. One In terms of the digital video game industry, downloading games online can be a problem. out, you aren’t a true gamer,” Kachmar said. day, he popped up on my Reverbnation as Kachmar and Whitely are bucking the trend. “The more video games go online, the “You have to know the history; you have to an artist and I was like, ‘No way!’ Then he According to the Entertainment Software more businesses like this will succeed know everything about gaming. You have started coming by my studio and we made Association’s 2016 ‘Essential Facts’ report, because they’re talking about capping your to at least play Mario, because all of those music for a while.” sales of digital games increased from 29 per Internet bandwidth,” Whiteley explained. games I’ve been playing are based on that.” The East York Observer /// Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 FEATURES 5 n MEDIA You can call this station ‘Radio Phoenix’ Community of East York at the epicentre of new ‘hyper-local’ radio station featuring shows such as Neighbourly News By JOHN MORTA The Observer

The community’s media landscape has be- come more interesting since the flip of a switch on a transmitter that’s located on Toronto’s lakeshore, due south of East York. The East York community is at the epicenter of the coverage area of the city’s newest radio station, CJRU, which just transitioned from test to regular broadcasts at 1280 on the AM dial. The transmitter is 99 watts — compared to powerhouses like CFRB at 1010 AM with its 50,000 watts — but station manager Jacky Tui- nstra Harrison says that relatively low power is actually to East York’s advantage, and to the ad- vantage of Toronto’s southeast corner generally. “It makes us a really hyper-local station,” Tuinstra Harrison said in an interview. “It’s a (geographically) small community and it’s in the densest part of the city.” So she and program director Elissa Matthews are programming CJRU accordingly, with shows like “Neighbourly News” — highlights from the pages of the East York Observer news- paper. During the station’s designated “test” broadcasts last spring, that newscast aired two days a week, on Wednesday mornings and Fri- day afternoons. The fall scheduling of Neighbourly News John Morta/// The Observer will be released in the coming days, following The official test period ended in August, and now CJRU has begun regular broadcasting at 1280 AM. Bryce CJRU’s switchover from test to regular broad- Turner (above) is one of the on-air personalities at the station — which beams to Toronto's southeast corner. casting in August — and the ramping-up of Ob- server publication after the student newspaper’s “Students wanted a station and transmitter and antenna are in the Toronto “We love our volunteers,” said Tuinstra Har- summer hiatus. after missing out on one station we found a nice Port Lands neighbourhood, her CJRU offices rison. “They help make it possible for students, Students anchor the newscast, just like they frequency on 1280 AM,” said Tuinstra Harri- and studios are at the Ryerson Student Centre, faculty, and the neighbours at Ryerson to get to prepare the stories and pages of the hard-copy son. She and her Ryerson radio colleagues pro- on Gould Street downtown. She and her staff share their hobbies with the community.” edition of the newspaper. grammed an Internet radio station called The work with a board of directors drawn from the In a pitch to other prospective volunteers, “Having community newspapers is a way for Scope in the meantime. The Scope has been on- community, the station’s volunteer ranks, and she added: “Whatever you’re doing, we have us to get into the neighbourhoods where we’re line for three years, while Tuinstra Harrison and the university. a program for you.” And to listeners: “Wheth- broadcasting,” said Tuinstra Harrison, “and our her colleagues applied for 1280, got permission, The terms of CJRU’s license specify a wide er it’s the music you love, or your passion for signal is stronger in East York, so that doesn’t and organized to put the station actually on the variety of music originating in Canada — es- dogs and cats, or astronomy, we have all kinds hurt either.” air. pecially in Toronto, and especially from new of programs…. It’s fun, it’s sort of like the It could be said that CJRU-AM is the phoe- For the station manager, CJRU’s return to the artists. The licence also calls for extensive spo- voice of your life and it carries you through nix that’s arisen from the ashes of a previous airwaves means all’s well that ends well. ken-word programming with the coverage ar- your day.” radio station, CKLN-FM. That Ryerson Uni- “All those things were good things,” Tuin- ea’s specific communities in mind. Tuinstra Harrison even had a term for her versity-based FM station lost its license from stra Harrison said — including the near-thou- So there are shows like “Morning Mixtape” programming that one doesn’t often hear asso- the federal broadcast regulator, the CRTC, five sand people who turned out for the promotion- with Ram Raj, “Urban Spotlight” with Paula ciated with her medium in the age of mass-mar- years ago. al events around her station’s sign-on in the Too Much and “Word on the Street” with Jenni- keted radio: artisanal. Advocates for a new Ryerson radio station spring. fer Rawley and Jesse George. Those on-air per- “Content is what’s important now,” she said. asked the CRTC for another chance with the Tuinstra Harrison is a community broadcast- sonalities are the proverbial tip of the iceberg — “If you’re in East York, you can get the sta- former frequency, 88.1, but that went to an indie ing veteran with an educational background a staff of more than 100 volunteers who pitch in tion…. It’s fun, it’s artisanal and it’s the voices rock station instead. in non-profit management. While the 1280 at CJRU both in front of the mic and behind it. of your friends and neighbours.” Author’s new book explores what it means to be brown By CHELSEA WARD became the basis of his new book, Brown: lies not just in decisions like having Peter The Observer What Being Brown in the World Today Mansbridge replaced with a woman of colour Means (to Everyone). to anchor the national news, but also by mak- For Kamal Al-Solaylee, being brown is “It (shadeism) means that persons of the ing room for programming that speaks to the his identity — not his race. But he says that same community have sort of assigned worth issues of non-white communities. news media around the world just can’t seem on the skin tones within that community,” Al-Solaylee’s shining example of this is to understand that. Al-Solaylee explained. “So the lighter you CBC Radio’s Metro Morning hosted by Matt “To be brown is to be on the cusp of white- are, you are probably the more privileged Galloway. He believes Galloway’s inclusive ness and on the edge of blackness,” Al-So- colour, more desired.” programming changed the tone of Metro laylee explained during a speech to students This is something that he finds true not Morning to better reflect the many communi- at Centennial College’s East York campus on only in communities across the world’s ties within the city of Toronto. Monday. oceans but here in Canada as well, specifical- “(But) the decision-making process still This idea of being brown is something ly in our country’s newsrooms. remains rooted in older generations who have he realized after researching the concept of Media outlets across the nation can often what is called white privilege,” he explained. Yvano Wickham/// The Observer ‘shadeism’ across 10 different countries, be seen sending out casting calls for hosts of “There’s not a place at the table for people including the Philippines, United Arab Emir- colour to join their programming in an effort who look like me. If media want to survive Journalism student Davika Singh ates, Hong Kong, Qatar, the United States to better reflect Canada’s cultural makeup. until even the middle of the century, media (left) holds a copy of Kamal and Canada. The findings of this research But Al-Solaylee believes that the real change outlets need to wake up." Al-Solaylee's new book. 6 OPINION The East York Observer /// Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 n COLUMNS n EDITORIALS School bus blues New year, big changes School bells across the For Syrian refugee students, bound to continue unabated. It’s been a rocky school startup for some children in East York and the rest of To- country have been ringing the transition must be even Here, meanwhile, more ronto. with renewed energy as class- more dramatic. Becoming bet- mundane concerns: Bills The buses that they take to school have been showing up very late — or not at all. es have resumed. ter acquainted with English, come in. Children need to The Toronto District School Board says it’s the result of an “unprecedented” shortage Some of us are nearing the getting to know their new be babysat. There will be of school bus drivers. end of our time as students, as homes — while minds un- highlights and there will be Some students found themselves waiting for their buses for more than an hour, only we head into our last under- doubtedly return to thoughts ‘lowlights.’ And some per- to discover that they were on one of the 60 routes across the city that had been left grad year. When approaching of their shattered homes on sonal challenges that may not without a driver altogether. The TDSB says that the situation is better now than it was the conclusion of anything, the other side of the ocean. seem like newsworthy events last week, but it may be next week — or later —before things are back to the way they anxious thoughts sometimes What kind of a world awaits will be battles just the same. should be. arise. In our case: thoughts them — and the rest of us This is particularly true for The board says that it only found out about a driver shortage a week before classes of internships, full-time — as the change of season young people, who are, after started — and even then, it wasn’t told how bad the shortage was. It’s pointed to three jobs and future respon- brings its own renewal? all, figuring out their place in of its contracted companies as the origin of the problem: Attridge Transportation, sibilities. But that’s There’s a sense of rela- the world. Wheelchair Accessible Transit and Sharp Bus Lines. nothing, compared tive political and social Fortunately, there are re- But perhaps there’s enough blame to go around here. to, say, students in stability in Ontario and sources that they can access Often the company that offers its services for the lowest price will win the contracts Fort McMurray the rest of Canada. — in their schools, and in from public bodies. That lowest bid trickles down to things like compensation for the — or students But our southern the community at-large — to frontline workers… like the drivers behind the wheels of those buses. newly arrived neighbours seem help deal with any crisis that What’s a typical wage for a school bus driver in Toronto? The Ontario Safety League, in Canada from roiled by deep might arise. Let’s hope that which trains them, says it’s around $65 per day for four hours work. In other words: places like Syria. divisions, and they tap into those resources; $325 a week. The OSL says that’s low enough to push some drivers to Uber, where they Their concerns sure- we can only hope after all, they’ve been set up can make more money. ly differ from aver- that there will some as safe spaces for inquiries The president of the drivers’ union, Debbie Montgomery of Unifor Local 4268, says age back-to-school healing there after about mental health and the this fall’s fiasco was entirely predictable, because of Ontario’s shortsighted procure- anticipation. the votes are counted other trials and tribulations of ment program for driver contracts. In Fort McMur- — not only for the youth. So to those students, She says drivers deserve more respect for all of their extra work, including supervis- ray, some school sake of the people in we say: get connected. Don’t ing children, navigating traffic and ensuring everyone’s safety. The lack of respect, and staff are still clearing the most powerful na- fight alone. compensation, leads to high turnover rates. damage and restoring tion on earth, but for the Helpful Numbers: Mental So even when the TDSB is outfitted with newly hired and trained bus drivers, the teaching resources. sake of the rest of us who Health Helpline — 1-866- question arises: How long will they last in the driver’s seat? Mental health special- inhabit this small planet 531-2600; Good2Talk ists are on-site to help alongside them. And in the Post-Secondary Student Help- ~ Chelsea Ward with the transition. meantime, the terrible tur- line — 1-866-925-5454; Kids For many students, moil that seems to afflict Help Phone — 416-586-5437; school was the last place much of the world seems Distress Centers of Toronto they were before — 416-408-4357. Stop throwing money the call to evacuate Raquel Russell Here’s to the 2016-2017 at Hydro One problem was put out. school year. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s attempt to repair the relationship between the province and its voters with an electricity rebate lacks sincerity. When you go to Make council efficient a Hallmark store and peruse the ‘I’m sorry’ cards, you may notice that they don’t Remember those classes in provincial riding, since 2006) cil get pushed to other council have a sleeve for cash. But our premier — and the MPP for Don Valley West — high school when you or your and the mayor. But attendance meetings. Maybe it’s an agen- doesn’t seem to get that. classmates created chaos by at meetings varies. On the da problem; that list of items Although the provincial Liberal government says it will spend a billion dollars a making noise and throwing positive side, Mayor John to be taken up is just too long. year to rebate Ontario electricity consumers an average of $128 (or eight per cent), paper airplanes and spitballs Tory is a steady presence. And when you put too much this scheme fails to address what seems like a sure thing: the continued increase in at each other? That 2006 increase in the on your plate, it’s just impos- rates. Well forgive me, but my number of councillors may sible to eat it all. Over the last eight years, Ontarians have seen a cumulative 140 per cent increase recent assignment to cover have seemed appropriate So, one quick solution in electricity rates. a Toronto city council meet- for what is now one of the may be shorter agendas. And the factors that are driving that increase remain in place. So it isn’t enough to ing reminded me of that. Of largest and most diverse But that may require just throw short-term money at the problem. course, the paper planes and cities in North America. more meetings. And In fact, you could call this a kind of hush money. Money meant to quiet voters, to spitballs were replaced by But I can’t help but who wants those? distract them from Wynne’s political stagnation. In the meantime, the government cellphones and bags of chips. feel that it is also Another, more continues its privatization of Hydro One — a political initiative that Peter Tabuns But beyond that, the parallels unnecessarily com- dramatic solution says will render any tax break insignificant. were startling. plicated how council might be fewer “If she actually felt that we needed to do something substantial about hydro pric- First, large groups of people tackles issues. councillors. But es, she would cancel the privatization of Hydro One,” said Tabuns — the Toron- working together can become Yes, council is just imagine to-Danforth MPP and provincial NDP energy critic. dysfunctional. We all know of diverse. And issues the protests “Rate increases over the next 12 months will probably wipe out this eight per- committees of multiple mem- are well-aired in the that would cent.” bers that get nothing done. discussions around arise – including Tabuns’ grim prediction isn’t far-fetched. So far, private power companies have Well, imagine a committee of that big table. That’s in East York, added about a billion dollars a year to our hydro bills. 40. Maybe that explains why the problem, in fact: which some say is Put in simple terms, privatization prioritizes profits as private power companies they simply seemed to avoid My recent visit suggests underrepresented lobby for increased investment. making tangible decisions. that what the councillors now. And yet, after Privatization also contradicts the notion that this tax break was meant to convey. No wonder some Toronto- are best at is talking my visit to Toronto Wynne is willing to cede public control over a utility that she nevertheless says is of nians have come to regard city about an issue… and city council, I can’t utmost importance. council as a bit of a do-noth- talking… and talking. help but think: More It appears that soaring hydro rates are not an “urgent issue” for Kathleen Wynne. ing circus. Even without Rob But making decisions councillors, more Her waning popularity is. This hydro bill rebate seems like a cynical ploy to feign or Doug Ford as ringmasters. and resolving issues? problems. compassion for Ontarians. A quick refresher. Techni- Not so much. cally, there are 45 members of Many issues that ~ Andrew Wright council; 44 councillors (two are brought up Evangelo Sipsas councillors for every federal/ during city coun-

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 Wright Nathan Vaz P.O. Box 631, Stn. A, Toronto, M1K 5E9. E-mail c/o Stephen Cogan PHOTO EDITOR Carmen Tortorelli [email protected]. Telephone 416-289- Lindy Oughtred Jacqueline Thetsombandith ASSIGNMENT EDITOR OBSERVER 5107, fax 416-289-5111. We welcome your input, Sarah Samwel including letters to the editor. The East York Observer /// Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 FEATURES 7 Hospital’s ‘little sister’ grows up

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 span less than six months — from March 21, 1932 to Sept. 7 that same year… but what an eventful half-year. This is the construction of the “nurses home” (as the city’s photo archive calls it) on Coxwell Avenue near Mortimer. This building accompanied a larger one that had opened next door in 1929: Toronto East General Hospital, now known as Michael Garron Hospital. Olympian says ‘medal or not, you can’t be disappointed in yourself’ By JONATHAN YUE The Observer

The Olympic Games is one of the ul- timate celebrations of sport and human achievement. It gives many athletes an experience that they won’t find any- where else. For shot putter — and East Yorker — Brittany Crew, the August Olympics in Rio de Janeiro were also a huge learning experience. “Gaining this experience, competing against some of the most decorated Jacqueline Thetsombandith /// The Observer shot putters in the world is enough to Centennial College Sports Journalism students work behind the scenes of their motivate and inspire me to achieve my nightly broadcast covering the 2016 Paralympic Games. own goal of being on the podium one day,” Crew said. Competing in the shot put, Crew threw a distance of 17.45 metres in Students have Rio covered Rio, ranking her 18th in the competi- tion. Even though she didn’t reach her By SARAH SAMWEL mentored the students through the “Every day is something new. The personal goal of finishing in the top 12, The Observer process. first days were challenging because she said that comes with being in such Meanwhile, the newsroom con- (we) had to manage our expecta- elite company. The para-athletes were on their tingent back on Carlaw combed tions,” he said. “It’s really going “Medal or not, you as an athlete can’t Jonathan Yue /// The Observer game in Rio. And so were some through “highlight reels” and kept with the flow.” be disappointed in yourself,” Crew Brittany Crew competes sports journalism students from East up to date with each day’s events, The students had been preparing said. at the Ontario University York who were covering them. which all had to be packaged for a for the Games for months before- “Only a small sample of the popula- Athletics championship. From Sept. 7 until this past streamed television sportscast each hand. The first half of their full-time, tion can say that they have made it to Monday, students from the Sports night. post-graduate program focused on the Olympics and even fewer can say Crew said that she isn’t bothered that Journalism program at Centennial For Mark Staniusz, one of the writing sports and conducting in- they are an Olympic medallist.” Oleksiak is getting all the attention. College’s Carlaw Avenue campus student journalists working in the terviews. The second half focused Prior to this summer, Crew’s coach, In fact, she’s smiling just as much as reported on the Paralympic Games newsroom, covering the Paralym- on broadcasting skills. They put Richard Parkinson said that he be- Penny. in Brazil. pics has helped him garner a new those skills to good use during the lieved that Crew had found the sport “As a teammate, I am just really About a dozen were on-scene in respect for the athletes. intensive couple of weeks of the for her to excel in. proud of all the medallists, including Rio; another dozen worked from “I always had a fascination with Paralympics. “She has chosen the right sport for Penny,” Crew said. “I’m smiling be- the television newsroom at the East (para-sports) and my knowledge of Ryan Andrews, one of the stu- her,” Parkinson said, “a sport and event cause at the next Olympics, that will York campus. it wasn’t anywhere where it is now, dents reporting from Rio, said that that she loves to do. She has found her be me.” Under the direction of Malcolm but I was inspired by the efforts,” he last year at this time, he never would passion.” Coming back to Toronto for school Kelly, the founder and coordinator said. have imagined that he would ac- Crew enjoyed her learning experi- and the off-season, Crew was able to of the program who accompanied There were challenges, though, tually be covering the Paralympic ence so much that after the Games, attend the Olympic celebration hosted the Rio contingent, the students on such as waiting for footage or re- Games. He was living in Nova Sco- she continued competing in Europe by the Toronto Argos at BMO Field. the ground covered all aspects of the ports from colleagues in Brazil. tia, wondering what he wanted to do — where she met the three medallists She said that the recognition after a Games, from interviews with ath- However, according to Kelly, for a living. He applied to Centenni- from Rio, adding to her eventful sum- long season is what makes it worth it. letes to the fan experience. current technology certainly made al’s sports journalism program, got mer. “It’s awesome to have so many peo- Five of them also worked with the things easier. in, and for him, the whole Rio expe- There are many stories coming out ple supporting us. The Olympics only Canadian Paralympic Committee to “In the digital age, (it’s) not hard rience was overwhelming. of East York following the Games, comes around every four years and produce content for the internation- at all,” he said. “I don’t know what the best part including the swimming success and it’s a long exhausting journey,” Crew al media. Kelly and a small team Staniusz said it’s been a learning is,” he said. “Maybe when I get multiple medals that 17-year old Penny said. “(The) road to 2020 has already of college staff accompanied and process. home it will sink in.” Oleksiak garnered. begun.” 8 FEATURES The East York Observer /// Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 Farmers market in full swing

Rain or shine on Saturday mornings, many people can be seen participating at the weekly farmers market at Withrow Park. Live music, fresh fruits and vegetables are some of the attractions. Get to know your local farmers between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Withrow Park farmers market will run until the Thanksgiv- ing weekend.

Jonathan Yue/// The Observer

Centennial hosts workshop to ‘ACCEL’ success Interested in starting your wants to work on a planned business to reg- ister. Registrants need not be Centennial stu- own business? Free session dents. ACCEL pogram co-ordinator Jennifer Mcllroy explained the process for joining the is open to the community workshop. “We will have an initial discussion to find By YEYE ZHU out if they want to go any further,” she said. The Observer “Then they will be invited to workshops or An expert in starting up a business says to one-on-one sessions, depending on where most prospective business owners need to they are at in their business cycle.” start with a question directed at themselves. ACCEL is sponsored by the Ontario gov- That question will come up this coming ernment through the Ontario Centres of Ex- Wednesday, Sept. 28, at a workshop at the East cellence, a free consulting service for young York campus of Centennial College — called entrepreneurs. The Accelerating Entrepreneurs and Leaders It is designed to help potential entrepre- (ACCEL) program. neurs cope with the difficulties they are go- It’s the question that one of the ACCEL ing to face after the business starts. business coaches, David Cowdery, believes ACCEL has already assisted such busi- is key for would-be entrepreneurs. nesses as The Come Up Show, Detailing “I ask them all.... ‘When was the last time Knights and Ko Fung Martial Arts get up you bought or paid for the thing you are and running. Andrew Wright/// The Observer about to do?’” he said. “If they say, ‘Never,’ Prospective ACCEL registrants can regis- then we need to think about it.” ter online at anytime. The Wednesday work- Derek Chan, an ACCEL graduate, owns Ko Fung Martial Arts. He The organizers of next week’s ACCEL shop will be held in room 105 at 1 p.m. at provides personal martial arts training directly to his clients in their workshop invite anyone aged 18-29 who Centennial’s 951 Carlaw Ave. campus. homes.