LEAFLEAF ITIT TOTO THE EAST TORONTO INSIDEINSIDE HOLYHOLY NAMENAME SCHOOLSCHOOL NDP OBSERVER leadership OBSERVER PAGE 4 PAGE 7 Friday • March 27 • 2009 PUBLISHED BY CENTENNIAL COLLEGE JOURNALISM STUDENTS AND SERVING EAST YORK Volume 39 • No. 4 East York turns out the lights By MIKE CRISOLAGO A gentle warning to all East Yorkers: don’t say that you have nothing to do on Saturday night. Stretch, pray, meditate, explore the sky, burn some beeswax and join a march on city hall. Or, just sit in the dark. Tomorrow (March 28), one billion people around the world will celebrate Earth Hour. The event, organized by the World Wildlife Fund, challenges people Observer, Brittany Prince to turn off all of their lights for EAST YORKERS PAY RESPECTS: On Monday, people gathered with Canadian flags in hand on the Spanbridge Road overpass one hour, between 8:30 and 9:30 overlooking the Don Valley Parkway in Flemingdon Park — to show respect for four soldiers killed in Afghanistan on March 20. The p.m., in a show of solidarity in motorcade travelled from CFB Trenton along the Highway of Heroes to the Toronto coroner’s office. More photos, page 2. the fight against global warming and climate change. And some East Yorkers are rallying the community to get Crown seeks adult sentence behind the cause. “I think that everybody By MEGHAN HOUSLEY was opposed to “psychiatrist should try and do their part,” A judge has ordered the shopping.” said Joanne Lowe, owner of teen convicted of the murder “I feel others are better- The Big Stretch Yoga Centre on of Stefanie Rengel to undergo suited,” Sack responded. “It’s Bayview Avenue. psychiatric assessment. not a question of shopping for “Even if it gets people to start The 17-year-old, identified psychiatrists.” thinking (about conserving only as M.T. under the Youth Nordheimer stated that he energy), they might start to use Criminal Justice Act, is waiting would like both sides to agree on less power instead of taking it while Superior Court Justice a mental health professional, but for granted.” Ian Nordheimer decides if she is in the end, he agreed to let the Lowe’s centre offers yoga by to be sentenced as a youth or as defence find its own psychiatrist candlelight during Earth Hour, an adult. in addition to Klassen. while raising money for the A jury found her guilty last The Crown is seeking an World Wildlife Fund. Friday of murder in the first adult sentence for M.T. despite “I think people enjoyed doing degree for her part in the death her being only 15 at the time something for the environment of 14-year-old Stefanie Rengel of of Stefanie’s murder. An and for our planet and East York. adult sentence would lift the generating awareness,” Lowe At a pre-sentencing hearing publication ban on her name said of the previous year’s on Tuesday morning, the Crown and give her life in prison, with Observer, Meghan Housley event. and defence counsel offered eligibility for parole after five to JUSTICE FOR STEFANIE : Patricia Hung, Stefanie Rengel’s Jeffrey Caulfield agrees. Last different choices as to who seven years. mother, leaves the courthouse with her husband, James Hung, year the 53-year-old organized would be best-suited to perform Flumerfelt made a statement on March 20, after the verdict was read. an Earth Hour block party in a mental health evaluation of outside the courthouse last the driveway of his home near the convicted killer. Friday on behalf of Stefanie’s custody and another four to be withhold sex if he didn’t. Main and Danforth. This year, Nordheimer said the family after the guilty verdict served in the community. The boyfriend, who can only he plans to take it one step Centre for Addiction and was announced. M.T. did not stab Stefanie. But be identified as D.B., goes on further by leading a march of Mental Health (CAMH) is the “We hope that at sentencing as her initial interrogator, Sgt. trial this fall. East Yorkers to celebrate at appropriate organization to do there is some justice for Steve Ryan, said, without M.T. Stefanie died of six stab City Hall. the assessment. Stefanie,” he said, “and (we there would have been no crime. wounds on New Year’s Day, “Maybe if you can feel the Crown attorney Robin hope there is a) clear message She never met the victim, but 2008. She was mere steps from wave of something bigger than Flumerfelt suggested Dr. sent that murder at any age has perceived Stefanie as a rival for her home, near the corner of yourself, you can’t help getting Phil Klassen of CAMH for serious consequences.” the affections of her boyfriend. Denvale Road and Northdale caught up in it,” Caulfield said, the assessment, while M.T.’s Sack is asking for his client to So, in reams of Internet text Boulevard. “not just sitting in your own attorney, Marshall Sack, would be sentenced as a youth, in which messages introduced as evidence, Counsel is aiming for an April home by yourself going, ‘It’s so prefer to look at other options. case she would receive 10 years, she pestered her boyfriend to 21 sentencing hearing to decide See EAST YORK, But Flumerfelt said he with a maximum of six years in kill Stefanie and threatened to M.T.’s fate. page 8 Macphail winner gives back to her community By FARRAH COLE the riding then known as York “I admire the dedication and Tireless, fearless and relent- East in the Ontario legislature the effort she puts in, and I less are just some of the adjec- in 1943. Macphail had a long really respect what she’s been tives used to describe the recipi- career as an activist, particularly able to achieve.” ent of the 16th annual Agnes in the area of human rights. She Sahota said Moore’s daily Macphail Award: community died in 1954. achievements include educating advocate Patricia Moore. Satinder Sahota nominated tenants about their rights, Moore was honoured at the Moore for the award after starting co-ops in buildings in East York Civic Centre on meeting her working on a the community and establishing Tuesday night. The Macphail political campaign three years tenant associations, including award is East York’s top civic ago — and said she couldn’t one within Moore’s own building award — presented each year think of anyone more deserving at 38 Thorncliffe Park Dr. to a person who has made an of the honour. Fellow resident Elaine outstanding contribution to “All I’ve seen her do is Feldman can attest to the community life. give back to the community, relentless nature of Moore’s The award is named after whether it’s housing, youth advocacy. East Yorker Agnes Macphail, issues, ...corrections or political “She’s helped everybody in the Observer, Farrah Cole the first woman in the House of activity. I just constantly see her community. If there’s a problem PASSING THE TORCH: Last year’s Agnes Macphail Award Commons when she was elected giving back to the community,” in your building, call for Pat recipient, Geoff Kettel, presents 2009 winner Patricia Moore with in 1921. She also represented Sahota said. See AWARD, page 8 her medal. Page 2 — East York’s Observer, March 27, 2009 Police beat Honouring fallen heroes Lost purse contains meds A public alert has been issued following the loss of a purse containing prescription drugs at Danforth and Victoria Park avenues on Sunday, March 22. Police said the medication included Clarazepam and 20 syringes of Fragmin blood thinners. They could be harmful if touched or ingested. If found, contact police or Crime Stoppers at 416-222- TIPS. Three charged in shooting Three men have been charged following a shooting in the Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue area that left one man in hospital with a bullet wound to the stomach. The victim was taken to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Police say several men entered an apartment on St. Dennis Drive on Tuesday, March 17 at 10:30 p.m. and shot the victim in a robbery attempt. They fled the scene but arrests were made a short time later. Police recovered a loaded handgun at the time of the arrests. Kush Walker-King, 20, Christopher Abbott, 33, and Lanri Watson, 25, all of Toronto, have been charged with attempted Observer, Brittany Prince murder, robbery and possession of a dangerous weapon, among 32 FALLEN, NOT FORGOTTEN: East Yorkers turned out on Monday afternoon to show their respect charges in all. for Canada’s latest casualities in the Afghanistan war. Four hearses, accompanied by limousines for families and a police escort, made the now-familiar trek over the East York stretch of the Don Break and enter in Leaside Valley Parkway on their way from CFB Trenton to the downtown Toronto coroner’s office. The A burglary was reported at a home on Leaside Park Drive on soldiers killed last Friday were: Master Corporal Scott Francis Vernelli, Corporal Tyler Crooks, Saturday, March 14. A door to the home was forced open between Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes and Trooper Jack Bouthillier. That brings the total so far to 116. 6 and 9 p.m. Police say cash, jewelry, a cellphone and keys were stolen, among other items. —VICTORIA WELLS Students’ old-school debate What’s on celebrates city’s 175th year By MARIEL GOMEZ “History and time was a mat- that’s more important than just Better business workshops There was name-calling, fist- ter of learning about things having a script and following pounding and even some wig- and places and people that it.” The Woodgreen East York Employment Resource Centre is throwing.