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GRAFFITI TRANSFORMATION PROJECT VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2, FALL, 2008 also home to the neighbourhood. t’s a bird, it’s a 1738A Victoria Park Avenue I rose, no wait O’Connor Community There were approxi- Center, one of the few mately eight youth Unit #1 it’s the Graffiti Trans- Toronto, On M1R 1R4 formation Project in social gathering spots employed through this in the Victoria village project and a number Phone: 416 750 9600 Parma Court! The area. This past sum- of hard working volun- Fax: 416 750 9606 Parma Court commu- mer members of the teers who put their Inside this issue: Interview with local artist 2 Victoria Village 3 Community Day Graffiti Transformation 4 Project Reflection s from Fozi 5 Ahmed Chinese Moon day 5 Senior’s Corner 6 The main mural located at a central gathering point in Parma Court Business Profile 7 O’Connor community time and effort to nity is a small tight knit Health & Horoscopes 8 took part in the Graffiti community in the transformation project Continued on page 4…. O’Connor area. It is which is the planned and organized removal of unwanted graffiti in the neighbourhood; replacing it with a mu- ral to beautify and change the perception of certain areas of the Page 2 ANC Victoria Village Community Newsletter LESTER CADALSO: AN ARTIST IN THE HEART OF VICTORIA VILLAGE ester Cadalso is a sional artist “should workshops where he L Cuban painter that know to how to do the could teach new artists emigrated to Canada work with and without of all ages. three years ago, with his inspiration”. When asked about wife Ari- Growing up, Lester Victoria Village, Lester ane and used to watch mov- enthusiastically declares his ies about Canada that it is a nice, safe, daughter and one day his residential neighbor- Mina. dream of living here, hood and a good place He to raise children. Les- Map of Victoria Village started ter’s message for par- ANC Victoria Village Staff : his art ents and teachers today Luanne Rayvals -Manager career when he is “to allow children to Sehr Athar was eight years develop arts and music Philippa Brown old. He finished capabilities.” It is impor- Diana Katgara Community Animators : high school with tant, he insists, “ to per- Lien Do, Bryan Peart, a major in art in mit children to experi- Nabegha Ali, Faten Elrassi Trinidad, Cuba, ence art and culture as Parveen Khoja, Martha also known as an alternative to T.V. Burbano, Manjuri Bardalai , and Kaladevi Karunananthan “the town of Lester stands beside a painting that and video games.” Les- artists”. combines two of his favourite themes; ter added that people The main childhood and mythology have to be aware that “Publicity of events theme of his anybody can be an artist work is the human fig- came true. He enjoys life if they want and have and public meetings ure set against various in Canada. Lester says the discipline. For more is the number one ob- settings such as land- that he does not feel like info on this local artist stacle for people scapes. He also paints an immigrant, rather, he visit: wanting to partici- mythological and reli- feels that he belongs to www.lestercadalso.com pate in local decision- gious subjects. His fa- Canada. making” vourite theme is child- Regarding his artistic Martha Burbano hood. When asked career, it still has a long & Francia Arias, So come and get in- about inspiration he way to go. He would like Victoria Village volved! Join us at events, maintains that a profes- to open a gallery with residents meetings, or join one of our groups. Help us circu- ANC– Victoria Village Highlight of Events TO CONTRIBUTE TO late this and get the word Summer— Fall 2008 OUR NEWSLETTER, out to your neighbours. To please contact us, via be added to our email list, ● July 3rd– Seniors Advocacy Forum phone, e-mail, or drop us a line at ● July 19th—Victoria Village Community Day drop by the office at: vvanc@workingwomen cc.org ● August 23rd– O’Connor Funfair & Graffiti Launch 1738A Victoria Park ● September 15th— Chinese Moon Day celebration Ave., Unit #1, Phone: 416 750 9600 ● September 16 & 18th—Quick Start Info Sessions Email: vvnewsletter Promote ● October 3rd– Eid Celebration @workingwomencc. your local ● October 11th– Victoria Village Thanksgiving Walk org business In this paper Page 3 ANC Victoria Village Community Newsletter VICTORIA VILLAGE COMMUNITY DAY was a “Laughing Yoga” session lead by Ananth the Guru, who demon- strated yoga and breathing exercises, and taught us how to de-stress by laughing aloud together. Community Members watched as Guru Ananth Last but not the least, demonstrated the benefits of Laughing Yoga there was plenty of Story Telling food to eat. Everyone uly 19th, 2008 was with games such as was given free hotdogs J indeed a day to re- bubbles and fishing, and watermelon. Drinks member as I enjoyed all sack race, swings and were also available at the activities organized football. Other activities a reasonable cost. The by the residents and such as portrait Arabic-speaking and Victoria Village ANC sketching, face paint- the Spanish-speaking staff. The day started ing, henna designs and groups sold tasty deli- off with people of all cacies. ages from the commu- The garage sale had nity getting to know quite a few good one another and ex- items for sale and all changing ideas to im- the proceeds, includ- prove the neighbour- ing the raffled gift bas- BBQ Hot dogs! hood. kets, were donated to- Village ANC team, resi- The numerous tents of course, story-telling wards worthy causes in dents and volunteers provided a shelter, es- also kept the children the community. A very who made it possible. pecially during the short happy. nice and clean portable Keep up the good work. bursts of rain which Adults also kept busy toilet was available for helped cool down the by informing them- public use. Aurento D’Souza, hot, hot park. Children selves of business op- All in all it was a Victoria Village were entertained by Kai portunities, and ex- really enjoyable day, Resident Sky the bubbly clown changing recipes. There thanks to the Victoria Page 4 ANC Victoria Village Community Newsletter GRAFFITI TRANSFORMATION PROJECT CONTINUED…. Above: the mural faces make the murals the voted on the images, The mural is a sight to Victoria Park Avenue, near wonderful pieces of art and symbols that should be seen and is praised the O’Connor Community that they are today. be depicted in the main by community mem- Centre The youth learned bers, stakeholders and about the artistic use of visitors. It gives the com- spray paint, thanks to munity a great sense of the lead artist, Michael ownership. It has been a Reyes, who passed this knowledge on to volun- “It gives the community a sense teers and children. of ownership.” The images and de- sign of the main mural mural. As such, the mu- hit with the youth are the result of a rigor- ral includes children who’ve made the ulti- Article 19 of the ous community engage- playing, images of com- mate claim to owning it Declaration of munity members who by making it their profile Human Rights: have passed, and Article picture on various inter- ● Everyone has 19 of the Universal Dec- net social networking the right to laration of Human sites. freedom of Rights! Bryan Peart, expression O’ Connor resident The Parma Court Mural is part of Amnesty Inter- national’s Project Urban Safety is paramount when Canvas– a mural series celebrating the 60th anni- using spray paints versary of the Declaration of Human Rights. For ment process wherein more information visit: community members www.projectubrancanvas gave their input and .com The Graffiti Transformation Project in Victoria Village was a partnership between Working Women Community Centre, The City of Toronto, Involve Youth, Toronto Parks and Rec., and Toronto Community Housing Corp. Page 5 ANC Victoria Village Community Newsletter Reflections from Fozi Ahmed– Up & Coming Artist, youth lead assistant on the Graffiti Transformation Project Q: Who is the inspiration for your y time being a for me. Thanks to the this is an amazing gift. M part of the Graf- lead artist, Michael I also got the opportu- art work? fiti Transformation Pro- Reyes, I was able to get nity to work on a few A: The artwork of ject was an interesting the hang of it. To be other skills that would Vincent Van Gogh experience. This wasn’t able to learn how to be beneficial to me in really inspires me. any ordinary job to me; control spray paint to the future. I helped co- His artwork is it was a hobby that I make beautiful images ordinate the project in absolutely beautiful. love and one that I got and make a living with Parma Court by doing paid to do. In this outreach and job I almost al- engagement ways got to use around the one of my fa- neighbourhood vourite skills, to find out what which is painting. the residents I had to hone in would like to this I got to work on my on my skills as a see in the mural, networking, and leader- painter by learn- where the mural ship skills, which are ing how to spray should be very important in to- Inspired by Van Gogh’s work, Fozi used his paint; which was located, and day’s work. newly honed spray-painting skills to an exhilarating emulate Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night in what Parma and challeng- the mural facing Victoria Park Court means to Fozi Ahmed, ing experience them.

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