East York Election Wrapup

ww The East York A TRIBUTE TO OUR HEROES n Stories of bravery, OBSERVER remembrance Pages 5, 7 Serving our community since 1972 Vol. 43, No. 10 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 His tour East York of duty election included wrapup a teddy Full coverage bear of all wards By OBSERVER STAFF By SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN The Observer The Observer Last week’s election in East During his tour of duty in York provided some drama, Afghanistan, Reservist Oscar with two high-profile upsets. Trachmann transported more In Don Valley West, the than fuel, troops, supplies and rematch between incumbent ammunition. He also carried a councillor John Parker and new member of his regiment ‑ community activist Jon Burn‑ a foot-long furry friend named side played out to a reversal Teddy. of 2010 — when Parker won “Teddy would come with over Burnside. This time, it me on every patrol,” Trach‑ was Burnside’s turn. And he mann said, “and I would send won handily, by more than pictures of him with me in the 3,000 votes. tank and on the airfield back to In Toronto-Danforth, Cathy the class.” Dandy was ousted from the The teddy bear was a gift public school board by new‑ from his Grade 6 pen pals at comer Jennifer Story. It was Mother Teresa Catholic School widely reported that the local in London, Ont. NDP establishment had shift‑ Trachmann began the pen ed its support from Dandy to pal program during his second Story, and in the land of the operational tour in Afghani‑ late Jack Layton, that may stan. He first deployed in 2006 have made the difference. and volunteered again in 2008, When the votes were count‑ returning to Canada in 2009. ed, Story had almost twice as “When I landed in London, many as Dandy. the whole Grade 6 class was Otherwise, East York opt‑ there to greet me,” he said. ed to return incumbents — Trachmann, who will speak including Don Valley West at a 10:30 Remembrance Day public school trustee Gerri observance at the Carlaw Av‑ Gershon, Toronto‑Danforth enue campus of Centennial councillor Mary Fragedakis, College, first joined the Royal Beaches-East York council‑ Canadian Regiment (RCR) as lor Janet Davis, Beaches-East an infantryman in 1994. Be‑ York public school trustee cause he wasn’t 18 yet, his Sheila Cary-Meagher and East mother had to sign his enlist‑ York Catholic school trustee ment papers. Angela Kennedy. Full coverage of the election n See TEDDY, page 5 results is on pages 2-4 and 6. Grieving parents, classmates seek student’s lost backpack By JENNIFER LEE opposite,” Gonzales said. “It was about “It would be great if Jasun’s backpack and ERIN SANDEL showing the best of people.” could be retrieved,” his father Gulshan The Observer Jasun Singh was a student in the joint Singh said. “There could be a valuable journalism program run by the Universi‑ parting message from him to us. We In the spring of 2014, the editors of ty of Toronto and Centennial College at would love to see it.” Freshly Pressed magazine were scram‑ the college’s Carlaw Avenue campus. He The backpack that went missing was bling to find photos for their upcoming was 21 and in his graduating year. He black and large in size. Anyone with issue. Like the East York Observer, occasionally contributed to this newspa‑ information about its whereabouts is Freshly Pressed is published by the jour‑ per, and to our online sister publication, encouraged to contact the East York Ob‑ nalism students of Centennial College at the Toronto Observer. server at 416-289-5000, ext. 8824, or by their campus in East York. Faced with On Oct. 30, he took his own life. He email at [email protected]. this particular production problem back was last seen alive on the Leaside Bridge “We will make it our mission to help in the spring, editor Dennis Gonzales at around 1 p.m. His backpack was left save other lives,” said his father. “We found the answer in contributing photog‑ sitting on the bridge but was found and will work towards that objective to rapher Jasun Singh. taken by someone shortly afterward. honour Jasun’s memory.” “A lot of photography is almost about Singh’s parents say they want nothing Jasun Singh was a talented photographer who exploitation — and his was the complete more than to find it. n See BEHIND THE LENS, page 2 captured ‘the best of people’ in his pictures. 2 NEWS The East York Observer ///Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 WHAT’S UP IN E.Y. Don Valley West vote recap By SAM TURCHAN considering that, when the pair race, long-time trustee Ger- but it proved to not be a decid- — 6,167 (27 per cent); Ishrath Remembering The Observer faced off in 2010, Parker won ri Gershon was once again ing factor when the votes were Velshi — 3,055 (13 per cent); by just 415 votes. re-elected. Gershon has held counted: Gershon took almost David Sparrow — 1,786 (eight with music It’s out with John and in This time, perhaps with the her spot since 1997 as trustee half the votes, totaling 16,196, per cent); Wasim Vania — St. Barnabas with Jon in Don Valley West. help of John Tory’s endorse- for Toronto District School ahead of Don Hedrick who got 1,033 (four per cent); Dimitre Church invites Jon Burnside was the only ment, Burnside’s winning Board Ward 13. just over a third and Pushpa Popov — 578 (two per cent). East Yorkers candidate across Toronto’s 44 margin was 3,248 votes. Some had wondered if Ger- Mathanalingam who garnered Don Valley West/TDSB to the church’s council wards to successfully On election night, Burnside shon might be vulnerable at the rest. Ward 13 trustee: Gerri Ger- Remembrance challenge an incumbent — in tweeted that he’s “honoured the polls this time, consider- The final numbers: shon — 16,196 (47 per cent); Day concert this this case, John Parker. and humbled.” ing some recent, unflattering Don Valley West/Ward 26 Don Hedrick — 12,523 (36 Sunday, Nov. 9, It was one of the most close- Meanwhile in the Don Val- publicity about Gershon’s use councillor: Jon Burnside — per cent); Pushpa Mathanalin- at 4 p.m. Tickets ly watched races in the city, ley West public school board of her trustee expense account, 9,415 (42 per cent); John Parker gam — 5,522 (16 per cent). are $15. Youth under 16 are free. The proceeds will go toward the Gershon wants to restore public trust ongoing organ refurbishment By SONYA NOV-SAN of the field over opponents Patricia Parulekar, a market project. Call Neil The Observer Don Hedrick and Pushpa researcher, has supported Houlton at 416- Mathanalingam. Hedrick was Gershon for many years and is 410-1504 for Some candidates watched in second with 37 per cent of happy with her re-election. more details. last week’s municipal election the vote and Mathanalingam “I give her my best wishes. results in bars or resturants, but had 16 per cent. (She is) a leader that belongs Gerri Gershon chose a quieter Gershon is one of several in many places. I’m glad she Police chief option. The incumbent for the trustees who faced scrutiny chose education,” Parulekar in the house public school trustee race in about the board’s spending, said. “Toronto badly needs Don Valley West celebrated following reports that she her sanity. I’ve known her for Police from East her re-election privately, with charged a tour of Israel to many years and have seen her York’s 54 Division just a few friends. taxpayers. She said the trip was grace under pressure.” are hosting a town “I’m thrilled I get four more meant to promote interfaith Over the next four years, hall meeting on years to serve my ward. But I relations after concerns were Gershon hopes to address Monday, Nov. 10, am sad because many of the raised regarding Muslim the issues she pointed out at Estonian House, candidates that I admire lost prayer within one of her in her platform, including 958 Broadview the election,” she said. “The schools. collaborating with the city Ave., beginning board will have about 50-per- “We’ve had some bad press,” and the province to refurbish at 6:40 p.m. cent new members.” she acknowledged. “The most and build new schools that Speakers will When the final results were important thing that needs to preserve green space. She discuss trends in counted on Monday night, be done now is reinstating the also plans on bringing greater File photo///The Observer neighbourhood Gershon ended up with 16,196 trust between the public and fiscal accountability through Gerri Gershon has been re-elected public crime, and Chief votes, winning 47 per cent the board’s trustees.” improved communications. school trustee in Don Valley West. Bill Blair will be present to speak about community policing. Members Mathanalingam remains hopeful for next time of the public are welcome to By CATHERINE MAGPILE “This was my first time and easily won a fourth term, wanted to implement change gam said, “yet I’ve never met attend and to ask The Observer people didn’t know about with 47 per cent of the in the relationships between or heard from her.” questions. me, so maybe I’ll have better votes. board members and the com- She added that she’s still Pushpa Mathanalingam is luck next time.” So she’ll keep the school munity.

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