ww The lest we forget n Special section Observer pages 4-5 Our 40th anniversary year.... Serving our community since 1972 Vol. 41, No. 10 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, Nov. 9, 2012

n will it be a wynne-win situation? Hospital spreads its wings

By NINO MESSE-TAMURI The Observer

“We have come home,” said Gov. Gen. David Johnston during an visit to Sunny- brook hospital on Friday. Johnston, who lived in the area with his wife for many years, officially opened two brand new wings expanding research space at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre by 150,000 square feet. “This is a great day for health care in Canada,” he said. “This state-of-the-art re- search centre has such magnificent potential to advance health care and change lives for the better. It just makes you feel so good to see this great Canadian contribution to the world.” The new $160-million Centre for Re- search in Image-Guided Therapeutics will house more than 300 research and clinical teams working with 30 biotechnology com- panies to develop new treatment methods for cancer, brain diseases such as Alzheim- er’s and Parkinson’s, muscular skeletal ail- ments, cardiac care and trauma. “Putting this centre in one of the busiest hospitals in the country provides our scien- tists and clinical teams with a constant re- Matthew Wocks /// Observer minder and motivation for their work,” said Kathleen Wynne, the representative for Don Valley West in the legislature, celebrates with family Sunnybrook’s president and CEO, Dr. Barry and friends after announcing her candidacy for the leadership of the Ontario Liberals. McLellan. “You do not have to look far here to find someone who will benefit.” Sunnybrook also used the opening cer- emony to express thankfulness for its suc- cessful partnership with East York’s Marc Wynne vies for leadership Garneau Collegiate Institute by awarding its first $1,000 Sunnybrook Award of Excel- ter an early reveal by outgoing In her nomination speech, the colour.” lence. Don Valley West MPP Premier Dalton McGuinty. mother of three highlighted the Sheila Ward is a trustee with “By working with students, we are in- highlights need for Wynne, MPP for Don Valley need for diversity in Ontario. the District School vesting in the future of research and health West since 2003, stepped down “We are firefighters and social Board and worked closely with care,” McLellan said. “(The prize) is really diversity, transparency as the minister responsible for workers and Aboriginal people Wynne when she was also a just a way to better engage with students.” Municipal Affairs, Housing and and we have been in Ontario for board member in 2000-2001. Supervisor Dr. Kullervo Hynynen gave By MATTHEW WOCKS Aboriginal Affairs on Nov. 2. nine generations,” she said. “Her work ethic is probably the Award of Excellence to Sharon Yeung, The Observer If she wins, Wynne would be- Wynne has been a diversity ad- one of the best of anybody I 18, for her outstanding help with his re- come the first female premier of vocate in the past, helping found know,” she said. “I don’t know search on the new ultrasound surgery helmet Kathleen Wynne has made Ontario — but first, she said, she MAD for dancing, a group sup- anyone that is smarter or works during the summer. true the rumours, confirming that wants to address controversies porting gay and lesbian youth. As harder than Kathleen.” “I am very excited,” said Yeung, who has she’s seeking the Ontario Liberal like the one surrounding her par- an openly gay woman, she said Michael Prue, NDP MPP for since graduated and is now in the Health Party leadership. ty and the Ornge Air ambulance everyone should be free from Beaches-East York, has also Sciences program at McMaster University. The Nov. 5 announcement took service. discrimination. known Wynne for years, but had “This summer has been a great learning ex- place before a packed house, in- “I have been proud to be part of “What I want to see in Ontario qualified praise. perience. It’s one thing to learn about sci- cluding her parents, at the Japa- this government,” she said. “We is for everyone to feel safe,” she “I hope she renounces her ence in a classroom. It’s another to see it in nese Canadian Cultural Centre have made huge advances and I said. “They can go to work and party,” he said. “I wish her good action.” at 6 Garamond Court. The an- want to make sure there is trans- not be discriminated against be- luck, but now it’s time to get back nouncement came three days af- parency.” cause of their age, sexuality or to work.”

East York pays homage to our veterans: E.Y. Civic Centre, Sunday, 10:45 a.m. Agency serves up nutritious food, social interaction

2 NEWS The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 Police Whas t’ Briefs up in e.y. Robber with St. Luke’s hosts knife at large big fundraiser

Police are On Saturday, searching for Nov. 17 from a suspect in 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 connection with p.m., St. Luke’s a convenience Anglican Church store robbery. will be holding its The 46-year-old biggest fundrais- owner of Matin ing event of the Convenience, year. The Holly at 719 Cosburn Berry Fair will in- Ave., reported clude a tearoom, a man entered crafts, knitted the store around goods, baking, 12:44 p.m. on a quilt raffle, Oct. 30. He books, Christmas pulled out a knife gifts and other at- and demanded tic treasures. For cash and ciga- more information, Nick Tragianis /// Observer rettes. The victim call 416-421- complied and Toronto’s Greeks take to the streets for Oxi Day 6878, ext. 21. the suspect fled northbound on Sunday, Oct. 28, marked the 72nd anniversary of Oxi Day, when Greece stood up to the Axis in Coxwell Avenue. the Second World War by refusing an ultimatum from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Braving No one was in- the rainy and chilly weather, Toronto’s Greek community marked the day with music, food, and a Celebrate the jured during the parade along . robbery. The sus- season with pect is described Christmas fair as male, 15-25 years old, 5’-5” St. Barnabas to 5’-6” tall. Anglican Church East York adults invest in will be holding an event this week- end entitled “Re- Sexual assault membering,” a reported improving reading skills concert of secu- lar and sacred Police are seek- By ANI HAJDERAJ of reasons,” she said. “Some struction. learn, including books on a music to honour ing the public’s The Observer need to start right back at the This allows the instructor to variety of topics — from our veterans and help in locating alphabet and others are just gauge what they need work spelling to cooking. those who did a suspect after Having just celebrated its trying to get writing skills to on, so they end up making a “Nothing has to be done to- not return home a 46-year-old silver anniversary and with get into a college program.” goal-based training plan for morrow or today,” Anweiler from war. The woman was sexu- a fundraiser planned for The program offers daytime getting the goals achieved. said. “It’s really all about the concert, to be ally assaulted. later this month, the East and evening programming to Pat Anweiler, 54, has been student’s pace.” held this Sunday, The incident York Learning Experience is accommodate those who have teaching English in the pro- The East York Learning Ex- Nov. 11, at 4 took place in the spreading the word about its jobs and other obligations. gram for about six years. perience celebrated its 25th p.m., will include area of O’Connor mission to improve literacy. “For someone who has “I was immediately inter- anniversary in the spring, and performances Drive and St. The non-profit agency, with been through the school sys- ested because I love the Eng- on Nov. 22, a fundraiser will by the choir and Clair Avenue East headquarters at 266 Donlands tem and who hasn’t gained lish language, grammar and be held for it — organized by soloists. Special at around 1:55 Ave., considers west Scarbor- these skills in a classroom I’m a stickler for punctua- a group of corporate commu- guest, piper Rob p.m. on Oct. 31. ough and some of east To- environment, working on a tion,” she said. nications students from Cen- Crabtree, will also Police describe ronto — along with East York one-on-one basis allows the Anweiler works with stu- tennial College’s East York be in attendance. the suspect as — as its catchment area. tutor to focus on the needs of dents on an individualized campus. Tickets are $8 in male, 35-50 The program’s goal is sim- a student,” McCullough said. basis, at their pace. It’s a “Revenge of the advance or $10 years old, 5’-10” ple: to help adults improve “You are not wasting time “The best thing about this Nerds” costume pub night at the door. A with short grey their literacy at their own reviewing things they already is there is no pressure. It’s at Eton House, 710 Danforth sherry reception hair and a me- pace. know.” about having fun, learning at Ave. near Pape, and it will will follow the dium build. Director Gail McCullough The East York Learning their own pace and not get- run 7-11 p.m. Tickets are $7 concert. has been an agency adminis- Experience first focuses on ting stressed out,” she said. at the door and $5 in advance ~ Jaclyn Dunham trator for more than 20 years. assessing where the students The centre has a number from inforevengeofthen- ~ Arielle Quigley “They are here for a variety are at before they begin in- of resources to help students [email protected]. Cutting it short: Languages lost in translation

cise caution” when evaluating trends of moth- n For more about East York, amined the 2011 language census data. Some question if the new er tongue and home language. please check out the Toronto “I thought the census data was quite reflec- The reason, according to Stats Canada’s @ Observer website at toron- tive of the language program that we offer,” short form census reflects toobserver.ca. language program chief specialist Jean Pierre O she said. the diversity in Toronto Corbiel, is that there is no longer a long-form According to the 2006 census, the top lan- census. mentary-level international language initia- guage spoken at home in East York was Eng- By MATTHEW WOCKS He said in the past there were seven lan- tives with the Toronto District School Board. lish. The 2011 census data released so far re- The Observer guage-specific questions asked on the long- After school programs are available for kin- flects Toronto as a whole, still listing English form census and one on the short-form. Now dergarten to Grade 8 students to either learn a as the language that is most spoken in house- To understand the diversity of languages there are only three language questions on the new language or maintain their first. holds. spoken in East York, follow the statistics, but short-form census. “We teach 53 languages and have about Rosemary Sostaric is the education director be forewarned; stats are not all cut from the “What we know is when we have a full set of 30,000 students participating within a school at the Oxford Learning Centre at 784 Broad- same cloth. language questions, we get more precise infor- year,” she said. view Ave. in East York, where after-school Statistics Canada released the language data mation,” he said. “It doesn’t mean the informa- Yang said Mandarin, taught at East York’s support is provided for Grade 1-12 students. portion of the 2011 census on Oct. 24, with a tion is not valid. It is just not as precise.” Secord Elementary School, is one of the most She said the majority of its students speak disclaimer on its website that data users “exer- Jolly Yang is the program manager for ele- popular languages studied. She has already ex- English at home. The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 FEATURES 3 n our anniversary: 1972-2012 Looking back in time 40 years on, the Observer reflects... with pride

EDITOR’S NOTE

Since September, we’ve been marking the 40th anniversary of the East York Observer with a bit of history and a retrospective of pages drawn from the newspaper over the years since 1972, when Centennial College founded the publication — both as a form of community outreach and as a way to give journalism students real-world experience. We must be doing something right, because the Observer has won its share of awards over its four decades. Earlier this year, our web companion — www. torontoobserver.ca — was cited by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association as one of the top three student newspapers on the web in the entire province. Prior to that, in 2009, 2010 and 2011, the hard-copy, newsprint edition was cited for excellence by the OCNA in various categories. We’re proud of those industry prizes, but we’re just as proud of our community awards, from a plaque presented by the former Borough of East York for our coverage of activities under its parks and recreation department to a citation from the Canadian Red Cross and Oxfam for our reporting of East York relief efforts following the Indian Ocean tsunami. (And with another round of OCNA awards approaching, our fingers are crossed that we’ll soon be filling more space in the hall display case!) For now, we’ll leave you with this look back — the first of two front pages from the 1990s.

In this instal- ment of our retrospective series, we go back in time to 21 years ago this very week, when we cov- ered — among other things — a royal visit to East York. 4 REMEMBER The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 He just wanted to defend his country By MARK CADIZ Second World War, the Cana- and were deployed overseas The Observer dian Army secretly recruited as interpreters to aid the Allied Japanese-Canadian interpret- countries in Southeast Asia. He wanted to serve his ers and translators. Moritsugu At the time, Moritsugu felt country during the Second wanted to be among them. his decision to go overseas World War, but they turned “One day in Ontario, two in the Canadian Army might Frank Moritsugu down. enlistment officers and a alter the treatment he and “Even when the war started couple of Japanese Canadians his family were receiving in in 1939, none of us were al- came to our farm,” he recalled. Canada. Theresa Spohn /// Observer lowed to serve in any of the “I told my father I wanted to “If I join up and have the Jack Aldred (left) and George McKeil reminisce about their Canadian Forces,” he said. join the army and my father Canadian flag across my uni- After the bombing at Pearl asked me in Japanese, ‘Why form,” Moritsugu remem- lives during the Second World War. Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, would you go and fight for a bered telling his father, “then 22,000 Japanese Canadians country that treats us all of this is going to stop were uprooted from their like this?’” and it will be better for homes by the federal govern- Against my brothers and my Veterans recall war’s ment and forced into intern- his par- sisters.” ment camps across the coun- ents’ Some 40 years af- try. Despite the treatment, wish- ter the internments of some of the young Japanese- es, the Second World War, bittersweetness Canadian men still wanted to Frank former Prime Minister fulfill their duty as Canadians Moritsugu Brian Mulroney gave By THERESA SPOHN The cruiser was too McKiel likes to recall and serve in the army. and 22 others a formal apology in the The Observer large to dock in the port, amusing moments while Frank Moritsugu, now 89, enlisted House of Commons on so crewmen returning to serving with Canadian was one of those men. Sept. 22, For Canadian naval Prince Robert had to use a Forces overseas. “The irony is the Chinese 1988. veteran Jack Aldred, get- motorboat. McKiel, 83, was a Canadians, who were also ting aboard his warship in “I was (in the water) corporal in the Royal banned, (were from) an Naples harbour during the between the jetty and the Canadian Engineers. Allied country against Second World War might motorboat,” Aldred said. He served overseas for Germany, Italy and have been his toughest as- “It could have squashed 16 years after the Second Japan,” said Mori- signment. me… and I wouldn’t have World War, including a tsugu, who retired in “We’d come down to cared.” posting in 1961-’62 at 1989 from teaching the end of the jetty and I His fellow sailors fished Rafah, Egypt. He recalled in Centennial Col- fell off into the glorious him out of the water relaxing one afternoon on lege’s journalism waters of Naples,” he said. before Aldred was hurt. the patio of the engineers’ program, now “I couldn’t swim, but the He came through the war wet canteen. based at the water was lovely.” safely and came home to McKiel said some East York cam- The 89-year-old . members of the Service pus. “In other York resident was an able Among his friends at Corps showed up along words, it was a seaman between 1942 and the Todmorden branch with their donkey, Zubric. white Canada ap- 1945 aboard HMSC Prince of the Royal Canadian They tied up the animal proach.” Robert, a Royal Canadian Legion is George McKiel. while they went in for a Eventually, near- Navy anti-aircraft cruiser Like Aldred, drink. ing the end of the stationed in the Mediter- McKiel felt Zubric ranean. needed to cool down too. Mark Cadiz /// Observer “It was 110 degrees,” McKiel said. “I took a case of beer and poured it in the bucket (and) WREN recalls ‘growing up navy’ Zubric… drank the whole damned thing… They By LUCY ONEKA Training Establishment at the they would look orderly when didn’t find out until later, The Observer navy base in Halifax. they attended the launching but I didn’t care since I Egan, who is scheduled to of navy ships at the Halifax was half shot too.” As a child, Rodine Doris take part in a Remembrance shipyards. Like Aldred, McKiel Mary Buckley-Beevers Egan Day observance at the East “I loved it,” she said. “It values his time in the remembers growing up navy. York campus of Centen- was war, yes, but I was doing service. “I never knew it as a floor, nial College today, Nov. 9, something for the war.” “If I had to do it all as a child. I knew it as a remembers her childhood as a In her off-duty hours, she over again, I’d do it,” deck,” she said. “I knew all busy time. Her father served would go to Bedford Basin to McKiel said. “Only I the time as 13:00, and 14:00 in the Royal Navy, so the get away from it all. wouldn’t get out after hours (not 1 o’clock or 2 navy life seemed natural to “The basin was a beautiful 16 years. I’d stay in o’clock). I knew navy talk.” her. At 19, she enlisted with place… It was just like a big the service.” Ronnie Egan, 89, served the WRENS. horseshoe of water. I would Canada as a chief petty As a WREN, she worked go down… and watch all the officer with the Women’s in the Halifax barracks, filing, ships all lined up (in a convoy Royal Naval Service during tracking ratings and keeping preparing to cross the Atlantic the Second World War. She track of other junior WRENS. to Britain),” she said. “Some Jack Aldred (left) and friends during the became one of four WRENS She also drilled the WRENS would come back, and others Second World War. chosen to run the Mechanical on the parade square so that wouldn’t.”

East York’s Remembrance Day service will take place on Sunday, Nov. 11...

O The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 REMEMBER 5 Even in war, love endures

By PAULA LAST When they arrived at their respective homes after their wed- struggled to get her baby loose. The Observer ding, they both had some explaining to do. “There was just a hedge there.... So I put John here (in her arms) Today Marjorie, 90, still lives in the East York war bungalow and turned my back to the plane (and tucked up against the hedge). Immediately after their wedding, Marjorie and Winston Rogers she and Winston bought in September 1949, paid for by That’s all I could do.” went their separate ways. Winston’s POW disbursement. She and three of their Marjorie also remembered the time her husband went miss- It wasn’t that their love had died. The impulsive pair needed to six children, Blake, 65, Terry, 63, and Keith, 66, ing in action, the day after her first child was born. go home and ask for forgiveness, since they didn’t bother to ask recalled a particularly perilous moment from “We’d been up all night having this baby and I just got for permission. those days in England involving their elder into bed to rest,” she said. The first time Marjorie and Winston met was during the Second brother John, 68. “There was a… ‘rat-tat-tat’ at the door. You knew it World War, when they nearly bumped into each other on the street. “A plane came down out of the sky and was the postman; it was a Sunday. Granddad went to an- The second time, at a soldiers’ canteen, Winston recognized Mar- shot up the street with machine guns,” Keith swer the door and he was handed this telegram that said jorie and chatted her up. After that, they saw each other regularly, Rogers said. “My mother is walking my older that my husband was missing in action – could be dead, meeting in Brighton on the south coast of England. It was during brother down the street, a baby and a carriage. This could be anything.” one of those trips they decided to get married. lone German ‘hero’ came out of the sky and tried to kill “It was a matter of months before we knew anything,” she At the time, Winston was a Canadian soldier in the 48th High- her.” added. landers of Toronto. Marjorie was a secretary living with her par- “Just shooting all the way and I had no place to go,” Marjorie Winston eventually came home to start a life with his bride in ents in Little Hampton, England. added. The baby was harnessed into the carriage, so the mother Canada. He died in 2000. FOLLOWING A handmade desk THE LEAD to remember By ALEXANDRA GATER The Observer By TAMAR ATIK “We kept the border safe while the In a kitchen in Scottsburg, Indiana, a woman The Observer Americans and South Koreans were fight- cooked pot roast for a stranger as she grieved over Every time Ian Cairney looks at the desk ing the communists in the city,” Cairney the loss of her son. Canadian Chris Jones listened in his sunroom, it’s Remembrance Day. said. to her story. “I built that desk with my dad looking But before he left for overseas in 1952, “I defy anyone to sit at a kitchen table and talk over me and there’s not one nail in that his father taught him some useful carpentry. to a mother who’s lost her son in war and not desk — no nails at all,” he said. “Dad showed me how to do it,” he said. feel something,” Jones said. Cairney’s grandfather served in the First “It’s interlocked by the wood. I wouldn’t Jones writes stories for Esquire magazine World War, and his dad in the Second know how to do it, but Dad knew how to and wrote The Things That Carried Him, World War. do it.... I even put the varnish on it and ev- published in the magazine in 2008. The “We didn’t see our dad often. We only erything.” story follows the return of the body of Joey saw him when he came home. But he told The veteran, who joined the Royal Cana- Montgomery, an American soldier killed in me all his stories. He only did England and dian Legion’s Todmorden Branch six years Iraq to his hometown. Holland, but it was bad,” said Cairney, 78. ago, said he wished he had the knowledge Jones offered insights to assembling “I wanted to follow in his father did. the story in a seminar for students during his footsteps.” “Dad was really amazing. I’ve never Remembrance Day week at Centennial Eventually he seen anybody like him,” College’s East York campus. The Things did. He served for he said — as he once That Carried Him took eight months and nine months on an again admired his sun- 101 interviews to complete. The story be- anti-tank gun in the room desk. gins with the man who dug Montgomery’s Korean War be- grave and ends with the soldiers who wit- tween 1952 nessed the explosion of the IED that killed and 1953.

him. In between are the stories of his family Tamar Atik members — mother Gail, wife Missie and their three children. Jones listened to their words and was touched by them. “For me that’s just part of the deal,” he said. “I /// Observer don’t want to not feel it.” The Things That Carried Him received the Na- Matthew Wocks tional Magazine Award for feature writing in 2009. But Jones said he had a hard time writing another story after it. He said he was weighed down by the sadness of the many people he interviewed. Four years have passed and Jones still sits at ///

that kitchen table with Gail. Many of the people he Observer wrote about in The Things That Carried Him are still important in his life today. He acknowledged the closeness to his sources was not always easy. “There is a cost to that. At the end of The Things That Carried Him I was in a pretty dark spot, for quite a while,” Jones said. “No other story seemed as important.”

...at the EAST YORK CIVIC CENTRE Memorial Gardens, beginning at 10:45 6 OPINION The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 n editorials n COLUMNS Looking back on Frankenstorm D itch the plastic? hen I first saw Hurri- a tectonic plate. And although can be unpredictable and often Wcane Sandy surging in we are situated along a body of cruel, I can’t help but have a East York small business owners react to potential ban the news, my initial thoughts water, Lake Ontario does not feeling that we are for- were along the lines of, ‘Oh have the potential to create tunate to live in a re- on plastic bags after local councillors vote against it great, here’s another event a tsunami. gion that, relatively that the American media are However, this is not to speaking, is spared oronto is only two months away from becoming a single-use, plastic shopping going to overhype. It’s only a say that we are immune from the worst natu- Tbag-free city. Unless the measure is reversed, Torontonians will welcome in 2013 Category 1 hurricane; how bad from natural disasters. ral calamities. by (among other things) carrying their own bags when purchasing goods at stores. can it be?’ Just over a year So just to be The plastic bag ban was put in place in June by the city and prohibits stores from of- Very, very bad. Like every- ago, the south- clear, I’m not fering single usage plastic bags. In October, an city councillor put forward a one else, I’ve seen the pictures western Ontario belittling the motion to reconsider the plastic bag ban. But the motion failed to pass, with East York and read about the toll that this town of God- losses that councillors Janet Davis and Mary Fragedakis among those voting against it. “perfect storm” took on the erich was dev- have been Plastic is harmful to the environment. Everybody gets that. However, going ahead northeastern United States — astated by an experienced and banning plastic bags before providing equally cheap and convenient substitutes and, to a far lesser extent, East F3 scale tor- locally, from may create problems. York and the rest of southeast- nado that flat- Sandy last Farzad Yousefi, the owner of a small food store located in the Cosburn and Pape area, ern Ontario. tened much of week to Hazel said he is not a supporter of the ban. At least 170 people have the picturesque almost 60 years “I think there are different ways we can help the environment,” he said. But a bag been confirmed dead by the community and ago. What I am ban? “Not convenient for customers.” storm between the Caribbean killed one person. saying is that Yousefi said that, as a shopper rather than a shopkeeper, it’s inconvenient for him to and Canada, with the United An even stron- compared to the carry a bag when going to different places to shop. And as a storeowner, he cares about States being worst-hit, suffer- ger twister tore destruction that customers’ overall shopping experience. ing 98 fatalities. In Ontario, up Barrie in 1985. nature has wrought “When you are selling something to the customers you need to offer them a way to the death toll was one woman And in 1954, in other parts of the carry that,” he said. “I like to offer (free plastic bags, but unfortunately I might not be killed by a piece of flying de- Hurricane Hazel world, we can con- able to offer them.” bris in Toronto’s west end and killed 81 people sider ourselves very Emil Shehien, owner of a convenience store located in the same area, said he has no a Hydro worker killed while in Toronto and lucky, relatively problem with the ban — but he agreed that it’s going to cause problems for customers. working on restoring power in the surround- speaking. “Especially for seniors,” he said. Sarnia. ing area — But a nagging Without alternatives having been adequately explored, perhaps council needs to re- Despite this, I think it is fair largely due thought persists: visit the bag ban after all. to say that those of us living in to antiquated that’s probably ~ Jennifer Pang Toronto are, for the most part, forecasting what the safe from natural disasters. and a lack of residents of The city’s geographical loca- preparation. Staten Island tion is key. Still, and At- We don’t live on an earth- while lantic City quake fault line, for instance, Mother Dennis Wu once as- Enforcing respect but rather far from the edge of Nature sumed too. Parking enforcement officers don’t deserve the unfair treatment they receive simply for doing their jobs erhaps you’ve been one of those unfortunate enough to emerge from a brief errand A pple reboots old products Pinto a business along a busy street like Danforth Avenue… only to find a parking ticket taunting you from under your wiper blade. Even worse, there’s the chance that a parking ith all of the com- I could just use my the size of the display. enforcement officer was in the act of writing out the damn thing as you flailed about between Wmotion around the phone. They’re also pushing the the storefront and your car, yelling excuses or even obscenities in a futile attempt to evade iPhone 5 finally calming Which brings me thinness and lightness of the the fine. down, it seems to be the to the new iPhone 5. phone. For those who have experienced the aforementioned scenario, it’s important to keep in perfect time for I have the iPhone Some people will change mind that the parking enforcement officer writing your ticket is just that: an officer. Apple to bring out 4, which I their phones when a new look Toronto’s parking enforcement is a unit of the Toronto Police Service. Officers, under the its next product: bought last is offered, but not me, not direction of the police chief, provide a service to the public by implementing traffic safety the iPad mini. summer. when the difference is so mini- priorities outlined by the Toronto Police Service. This, according to the division’s website, It is said to be a Now, along mal. includes “assisting with the safe and orderly flow of traffic, stolen vehicle recovery, crime duplicate of the comes the 5. (Besides, if you do a soft- management, assisting at special events,” and yes, regulating parking. iPad, but much I watch the ware upgrade on your current And yet, despite the fact that their vehicles and uniforms resemble the usual Toronto po- smaller. commercials iPhone to the iOS 6, a lot of lice accoutrements, parking enforcement officers are not always treated with the respect that When it like every- the new features will be acces- a regular officer would garner. comes to the one else and sible to you.) According to Wendy Drummond of the Toronto Police Service, there have been 104 re- iPad, I don’t follow the Apple has benefited tremen- ported assaults against parking enforcement officers over the last three years. know whether news as each dously from the buzz around As frustrating as receiving a parking ticket may be, assaults on officers are simply inex- a smaller size new prod- each new product introduc- cusable and so are volatile words and generally rude conduct. is even advis- uct becomes tion. Like anyone, parking enforcement officers are simply doing their job. A job, in fact, that able… because the topic du But if it releases a new item exists in the interests of protecting the safety and ensuring the convenience of citizens. Il- a lot of the func- jour. However, I every single time it has the legally parked vehicles are a source of traffic disruption and obstruction, as well as a safety tions the device is haven’t felt the need ability to fix a glitch, change hazard and an obstacle for emergency response vehicles, as stated on the parking enforce- used for are more to switch my phone. the appearance of the phone or ment website. If you made the decision to park in a no-parking zone or to opt out of paying practical on a bigger There’s no extraordi- discover a new feature, I think for parking for a few minutes’ stop, you took the conscious risk of a parking enforcement screen. People use nary change or upgrade the hype is gradually going to officer with better timing than your own ticketing or towing your car. iPads for presenta- that has caught my at- decrease. Parking enforcement officers may be perceived as a sort of annoyance or even a necessary tions, to watch mov- tention. When it comes If the company isn’t care- evil, but the fact is that they are much less evil and much more necessary than the commu- ies, read books, view to the iPhone 5, one ful, we might eventually see a nity may acknowledge. Keep in mind that one thing worse than being issued a parking ticket photo galleries, etc. of the big innovations situation where the release of is someone else’s parking adding to the city’s gridlock. If I wanted that a new Apple product garners to do those they’re about as much public and me- ~ Becky Robertson on a small- Rebecca Raveendran promot- dia attention as when McDon- er screen, ing is ald’s unveils a new hamburger.

The East York The East York Observer is published by Centen- Faculty Editors Managing Editor copy Editors nial College journalism students at the East York Lindy Oughtred Georgia Williams Morgaine Craven campus, 951 Carlaw Ave., Rm. 149. P.O. Box Stephen Cogan Assignment editor Shantal Otchere 631, Stn. A, Scarborough, M1K 5E9. E-mail c/o Louie Piacentini Alicia Ferroro production editors Observer [email protected]. Telephone 416- Dave Johnny photo editor Leslie Emmons 289-5107, Fax 416-289-5111 Andrew Mair Ali Dar Mohammad Arshad The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 FEATURES 7 ‘Pop-up shop’ owner wants kids to be kids ‘Mrs. Darling’s which hand over their space “Especially for small busi- for a month at a time; we, the nesses like us, it has been re- Imaginarium for DECA, would facilitate get- ally helpful to get a chance to ting tenants in there,” said try it out, to get real time feed- Girls and Boys’ Granatstein. “(Tenants) can be back. I think it is tremendously debuts on Danforth artists, entrepreneurs… com- amazing,” Sales said. munity groups. It could be any Tenants are not the only By JENNIFER PANG sort of enterprise.” beneficiaries of the project. The Observer After competing with over “So what the landlord gets Becky Robertson /// Observer 50 proposals submitted to out of it is a little bit of la- Virtual Man Hugs generate laughs at the Black Swan Comedy club on The idea of building a space DECA’s “Pop-Up Shops” ini- bour,” Granatstein said, refer- Oct. 22. Shows has been running at the club since January 2011. for children to play and for re- tiative, Peretti and Osvaldo ring to Sales’ and Peretti’s test minding adults of their child- Sales, the owner of downtown locations. “We helped clean it hood has been turning over in retail store Birthia, were each up, and painted it. And they East Yorker Melissa Peretti’s been granted an opportunity to get someone in their space, Monday is fun day mind for two years. try their businesses at an emp- which makes it much more at- Now, with help from the ty Danforth East store during tractive in terms of getting a East Danforth Community As- one weekend. paying tenant. sociation (DECA), Peretti may The opportunity gave Per- “For us, the community, at E.Y. comedy club finally make her dream come etti a chance to test her con- what we get out of it is we true. She’s tested “Mrs. Dar- cept, in anticipation of open- have a more vibrant, By BECKY ROBERTSON down the layers of doubt and fear regarding ling’s Imaginarium for Girls ing a store next spring and walkable space,” she The Observer self-expression and helping people tap into and Boys” in an empty store- launching a new career. added. their creativity without being self-conscious,” front at 1948 Danforth Ave. E. So on Oct. 27-28, Per- A variety show on a Monday night? McLeod said. “Improv teaches skills that are It’s not luck that brought the etti finally presented her nMelissa It sounds counterintuitive, but for the audi- helpful for self-improvement and profession- empty space to Peretti. DECA alter ego, Mrs. Darling, a Peretti ence at the Monday Night Variety Show at the al development; the power of being positive, has been working to bring life character in the novel Peter Black Swan Tavern, the regular feature helps how to work together as a group and probably to empty storefronts along Pan, in a play for children and ease the tension as the work-week ramps up. most importantly, reminds adults how to play Danforth East — a stretch of their families. Black Swan Comedy has been running again.” the avenue that some see as “Mrs. Darling sees shows and lessons on the second floor at 154 The Monday Night Variety Show offers an being in decline. who Peter is and Danforth Ave. since January 2011, stepping in array of entertainers in a cozy, laid-back at- “We know that there are lets him be. She as East York’s comedy mecca after the demise mosphere, bar included. The Oct. 22 event businesses who want to be in doesn’t try to of Bad Dog Theatre. included the improv troop Dog’s Hind Leg, there who can’t afford it and capture him Gord Oxley, an improv performer who does performers Virtual Man Hugs and stand-up we are trying to get to the root or tell him he technical work and odd jobs for Black Swan, acts Alex Groepper, Graham Scofield, and the of what is really the problem,” must grow said it’s been delightful watching the club UK’s Mark Simmons, all co-hosted by come- said Natasha Granatstein, DE- up,” Per- evolve. dian Adam Ward. CA’s founding and past chair. etti said. “People in the area were just so enamoured The night was also notable for the support “So we started doing research “I wanted by having something like an improv theatre in shown by the audience and other performers about empty storefronts and to be the the neighbourhood. When (Bad Dog Theatre) for all acts. McLeod said that encouraging air one of the things we found was person to vacated, Black Swan Comedy came along,” is a defining feature of the club. a model that has been used in encourage Oxley said. “It’s a lot of the same folks, and “Black Swan really builds and fosters a sense Newcastle, Australia.” children to there’s certainly experience and integrity be- of community and a place to express yourself Inspired by strategies used play.” hind what we’re trying to do here. We want without judgement,” he said. by the Australian group Re- On Oct. people to have fun.” For those looking for something new to do new Newcastle, DECA decid- 20-21, Sales Ralph McLeod founded Bad Dog and is cur- on any night of the week, Oxley stresses the ed to fill the empty spaces with used his op- rently artistic director at the Black Swan. He club’s open-door policy. people and activity. portunity to see runs drop-in improv classes every Monday and “Black Swan Comedy is a multi-headed “Now we’re trying to get whether the Saturday, and plays host to the club’s various beast of humour and goodwill that wants to landlords who would be in- east end is a events. He praises what comedy has to offer give a bright spot to East York and to anybody terested in letting us use their suitable place to the public. who likes comedy and wants to venture over space on a rolling basis. So open an additional “As a teacher, I see my role (as) tearing here and check it out,” Oxley said. the basic idea is landlords, Birthia store. City golf course stuck in the rough

By ALI DAR creased as 2011 saw a ronto’s parks and recreation The Observer $242,300 deficit, a signifi- division, said the city has cant increase from $160,100 accepted the report’s recom- Regulars at Dentonia the year before. mendations. Park’s public golf course are The deficit at Dentonia He also said 2012 profits swinging their clubs under a Park coincides with 2011 for all municipal courses are fiscal cloud — as East York’s profits sliding to $521,000 projected to bounce back to nearest municipal course overall for all five of Toron- $1 million. continues to lose money. to’s municipal golf courses. “Dentonia is a great par- The course on Victoria Three years prior to that, 3 course for beginner and Park Avenue, just north of profits had been near $1 mil- junior golfers to learn the Danforth Avenue, has lost lion. game,” Andrusevich said. approximately $822,000 The report states that while “To encourage young golf- since 2007. “there may be valid reasons ers to try the sport and grow A municipal audit of man- to continue to operate Den- that next generation of golf- agement of Toronto’s mu- tonia Park, the reasons for ers, the green fees have been nicipal golf courses says the doing so should be reviewed, set lower than other city city must create a long-term articulated, documented and courses.” business plan that accounts specifically approved.” Rates at Dentonia Park Ali Dar/// Observer for ongoing losses at Dento- Rob Andrusevich, man- startfrom $10 to $27, where- With continued losses showing in its balance sheet, Dentonia Park nia Park. ager of public relations and as other courses vary from Golf Course may be a target on the city’s financial agenda. Losses there have in- issues management for To- $13 to $63. 8 FEATURES The East York Observer /// Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 n fall Fair Plant species draws crowd

By CARLEIGH O’CONNELL The Observer

Many East York Garden Club members “oohed” and “ahhed” at beautiful gesneriad photos that guest speaker Vincent Woo, former president of the Toronto Gesneriad Society, presented at the club’s October meeting. No, gesneriad is not a typographical error. “Gesneriads for me are the most exciting plant family to study and grow,” Woo said. Woo was born in Edmonton, where his grandmothers were both avid gardeners. He became interested in plants as a teenager, and was especially drawn to the gesneriad family. He studied botany in New Zealand for a year, and returned to Toronto where he joined the Toronto Gesneri- ad Society. Gesneriad is the familiar term used for all plants in the Jennifer Pang /// Observer Gesneriaceae family, which includes over 3,000 species. Funding fun These plants are commonly found in moist or humid en- Keena Allison (front), 7, enjoys herself at R.H. McGregor Elementary School’s fall fair on Oct. 27. vironments such as rainforests in Brazil, Ecuador, Africa It was one of several events held over the year to raise money for extracurricular activities. and Asia, though some rare species are found in New Zea- land and Australia. Gesneriads are appealing to horticulturalists because of their brightly coloured flowers, fruit and seeds. The most recognizable gesneriads include the African Violet, Cape Theatre offers youth a chance Primrose, Lipstick Plant and Goldfish Plant. “Unfortunately… we don’t have the advantage of seeing Program engages Karen Emerson, initiative helps kids them grow here in a natural environment,” Woo said. artistic director at from different walks However, gesneriads like African Violets can easily adolescents in the CPT, outlined three JUST THE of life connect with grow inside the warmth of a home or greenhouse, making key objectives of the other youth and face them the perfect plant to enjoy during the cold Canadian arts to encourage program. FACTS their challenges to- winter. • Get youth aware of gether. self-expression n Free theatre and “Being from frozen Edmonton, I used to grow (gesneri- conflict in their own leadership program “Instead of turning ads) on a windowsill or on a lamp stand,” Woo said. “It By REBECCA lives. to violence or drugs really helped sustain me as a plant person during the win- RAVEENDRAN • Learn life skills, n Aimed at youth or gangs, they turn to tertime.” aged 14-24 The Observer better tools for ex- a meaningful practice When hunting for gesneriads at a nursery pressing their self and they act that out or supermarket, Woo suggests looking n Runs Thursdays The Massey Gould- and communicating. and send that mes- from 4:30 to 8 p.m. for the most recognizable gesneriad ing Estate located • Get them to be in sage to the commu- characteristic: hairy leaves. in Taylor Creek Park a group of diverse n Located at 305 nity,” Kelley said. They are known as five-part flow- is home to the Chil- people and recognize Dawes Rd. Current funding ers, because they often have five pet- dren’s Peace Theatre common ground. from the city is being als. Gesneriad species can be as small n For information, (CPT), an organiza- On the first night discontinued. as a shirt button or as tall as five call 416-752- tion committed to last month, 17 youth “No matter how metres. 1550, email elvis@ creating a culture of attended. successful it was, childrenspeace They often come in peace by engaging Elvis Aidoo, pro- theatre.org or visit the expectation colours such as purple, children and youth gram co-ordinator at the website at www. is that we will pink and crimson. through art and the- CPT, was content with childrenspeacethe- have found oth- The next East York atre. the turnout. atre.org er funding for Garden Club meeting A free theatre and “The feedback for it,” Emerson is this coming Thurs- leadership program the day was great. We out the program. The explained. day, Nov. 15. It will has been initiated had a spoken-word youth are working “If we do feature a potluck for youth aged 14-24 artist that came out toward a December not find supper, award pre- every Thursday night and they really en- showcase exploring more fund- sentation and a “Peo- until Dec. 13. joyed it,” he said. conflict and violence. ing for this ple’s Choice Photo” Its mission state- There will be perfor- Dustin Kelley has program, it won’t contest for the next year- ment is “act up, mances from profes- been involved in the be run next year book cover. speak out and make sional theatres and theatre for two years. and that would be peace.” visual artists through- He explained the tragic.” Carleigh O’Connell /// Observer n Vincent Woo E.Y. Barbershoppers honing their harmony for holiday season

By ANI HAJDERAJ district fall convention of the said Schien Dong, who joined ily. The Observer Barbershop Harmony Society the chorus in May. Although “I have an excellent music that attracted more than 700 Dong is a relative latecomer, coach and a great presentation The East York Barbershop- registrants from across the he said he has been interested coach,” Dong said. “They re- pers are back from Belleville, province. in barbershop quartets and ally put in the extra effort in having won two awards at last Ironically, the Jack Haugh- choruses since he was very to really improve singing and month’s provincial competi- ie trophy is named after one young. presentation by helping the tion there. But they’re not of the founding members of “It’s not foreign to me. I singers individually, to focus resting on their vocal lau- the East York Barbershoppers have heard barbershop be- on developing good habits.” rels; every Tuesday, they’re — which was established in fore,” he said. Director George Shields back in rehearsal at the aptly 1950. This year, chorus director said that the Belleville results named Harmony Hall on The Haughie trophy repre- Pat Hannon has been focus- prove that the chorus has also Gower Street. sents a fourth-place finish in ing on improving the stage improved in their singing.The Ani Hajderaj /// Observer The barbershoppers brought the competition. presence of the chorus, since East Yorkers’ second award back the Jack Haughie trophy “I made my best effort to judges at competitions like was for most improved chap- Pat Hannon, 34, directs the chorus every from the Oct. 12-14 competi- blend in, because teamwork Belleville’s are starting to ter in the entire province of week at Harmony Hall. This year he has been tion. It was part of the Ontario is the highest priority in this,” judge that aspect more heav- Ontario. focusing on strengthening stage presence.