ww The East York CLASS IS IN SESSION OBSERVER n Danforth Tech Page 7 Our 40th anniversary year.... Serving our community since 1972 Vol. 41, No. 8 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, Oct. 12, 2012 Recall boosts local beef By AKIHIKO TSE The Observer Despite the ongoing E. coli contamination crisis, which has seen more than 1,700 beef products recalled from across the country and beyond, some East York butchers say the incident has prompted “a renewed sense of faith” in lo- cally grown beef produce. The Canadian Food Inspec- tion Agency announced on Sept. 16 that XL Foods Inc. was recalling certain beef products after traces of E. coli were found in specific brands originating from the process- ing plant in Brooks, Alta. The agency continues warn- ing the public, distributors and food service establishments to Nino Meese-Tamuri /// Observer refrain from consuming, sell- ing or serving the blacklisted Imagining life in space beef products. Eleven people The Ontario Science Centre opened its new exhibit, Beyond Planet Earth: The Future of Space Exploration, on Oct. 3. across four provinces have be- Grade 6 students from Forest Manor Public School were among the opening-day visitors — posing in the exhibit’s Mars come sick from the beef. The environment with a life-size model of NASA’s Mars rover, Curiosity. cause of the contamination is still under investigation. Carmen Estrela, owner of Royal Beef on Woodbine Ave., said while she still considers Canadian beef “the best in Community bonding attracts families the world,” the largest recall in Canadian history has done little to strengthen the public’s By ARIELLE QUIGLEY community is the ability for fami- in Thorncliffe Park ever since. She not think this is enough. confidence in mass processed The Observer lies to recognize themselves in their thinks it is a good place to raise her “A lot of my attention is put to- beef. neighbours. two-year-old son Hassaan Moham- wards doing the best we can in According to Estrela, “It is a community of support, faith med. Thorncliffe to meet the needs of the customers trust independent Those who live there say it’s the (and) shared experiences and that is “People from my country and my community there,” he said. butchers because they deal strong sense of community and be- important,” he said. community (keep me here),” she “We’ve made progress and I hope with meat that has been longing that attracts young families to The physical layout of Thorncliffe said. “It feels like home.” to make more progress in the future.” cultivated differently than in Thorncliffe Park. Park is only two square kilometres, John Parker, councillor for Ward large processing plants, in In fact, it’s a combination that’s which Aliweiwi views as an ad- 26, which includes Thorncliffe Park, n Hassaan Mohammed smaller quantities. She added proven to be so attractive that Thorn- vantage. Most of the community’s said having a large number of young that while she has received cliffe now has more children under needs, including the school, com- children can make for a lively neigh- inquiries from customers as to the age of 14 than any other area in munity centre, religious centre and bourhood. However, there are some the safety of her beef, there has Toronto, according to the 2011 cen- parks, are within walking distance. challenges that come with it. been no impact on sales. sus. The results, released earlier this “It is fairly concentrated. It’s a “It puts some pressure on the lim- “It’s business as usual,” she year, show that approximately 34 per horseshoe; the buildings are dotted ited resources that we have,” he said. said, noting that Royal Beef, cent of Thorncliffe’s population is along that horseshoe (and) the school “It shows up in schools; it shows up which has been in operation made up of children, and the number is situated in the middle.” Aliweiwi in the recreational spaces and pro- for 25 years, cultivates its beef is growing. said. “Families like to see their kids grams, the parks.” locally and from P.E.I. According to Jehad Aliweiwi, ex- walking to school, if they are not Improvements have already been According to Tim Schmuck- ecutive director of the Thorncliffe walking with them themselves.” made to both R.V. Burgess and Leas- er, owner of Fresh From The Park Neighbourhood Office, the area Fareese Fatima immigrated to ide parks. Parker said the recreation- Farm on Donlands Avenue, the has a large immigrant population. He Canada from India with her family al centre was doubled in size a few recall has reinforced the notion believes part of the attraction to the eight years ago and has been living years ago; however, he still does of “local production for local consumption.” Schmucker said he only Thorncliffe Park Public School enrolment facts: deals with small Ontario fam- ily farms. Percentage of students in Arielle Quigley /// Observer 1,917 Number of students at school 24% “It confirms for us and grades 4-5 customers an alternative to fac- 76% Percentage of students in Percentage of students whose tory farmers who produce our 97% food,” he said. kindergarten-Grade 3 primary language is not English Agency serves up nutritious food, social interaction 2 NEWS The East York Observer /// Friday, Oct. 12, 2012 POLICE WHAS T’ BRIEFS UP IN E.Y. Men charged Calling all fans after chase of royal history A police drama The East York gripped the area Historical Society around Victoria will be hosting Park and Sun- Garry Toffoli at rise avenues its meeting this on Oct. 3 when coming Wednes- a pair of men day, Oct. 17, at 2 being searched p.m. Toffoli is the by officers fled. executive director A third suspect of the Canadian then joined the Royal Heritage other two. One Trust and has of the suspects extensive knowl- climbed through edge about the a fence, where history of royalty. police found a The presentation loaded handgun. will be held at the The suspect ran S. Walter Stewart into a commu- library branch, nity centre, the 170 Memorial Emergency Task Photo courtesy of Jeff Jedras Park Ave. Light Force was rushed Deborah Coyne was the first candidate to declare her intention to seek the leadership of the federal refreshments will in and three men Liberal party. The constitutional lawyer wants to run on a campaign of transparency and account- be available. were eventually ability. apprehended. They face a total of 15 charges. ‘My Boy Jack’ Coyne vies for leadership comes to E.Y. Seniors The East Side assaulted in 2008. In June, she an- She wants to unify Cana- Coyne proposes the feder- Players are pre- Former E.Y. nounced her plans to pursue da, combat voter apathy and al government meeting with senting a tale of Police are the Liberal leadership. implement electoral reform. individual provinces to cre- family conflict looking for politician a In an interview, she out- Her platform also includes ate a discourse about health- with the play My the men who lined her platform, including reducing the power of the care issues and programs. Boy Jack — about violently robbed long shot to a re-engagement with Cana- Prime Minister’s Office, en- Nelson Wiseman, profes- Rudyard Kipling three older dian voters, and denounced suring respect for Parliament sor of political science at the sending his myo- victims in the Harper government. and elected representatives, University of Toronto, says pic son to war. It two separate head Liberals “I would like to lead the and increased transparency. the race for the Liberal lead- premieres Oct. incidents on By GEORGIA WILLIAMS party back to being a party of Coyne is also concerned ership will be “anti-climac- 25 and runs until Oct. 5 and 6. Nov. 10 at the The Observer strong national government about healthcare for the ag- tic” since Trudeau threw his A 61-year-old and one Canada,” Coyne ing population. hat in the ring. Papermill The- woman was Justin Trudeau’s an- said. “The provincial govern- “I don’t think she (Coyne) atre, 67 Pottery pepper-sprayed nouncement that he’s seek- In the last election the ments are struggling to get in has a chance. In fact, I don’t Rd. The show for her purse at ing the leadership of the fed- Liberals lost seats, reducing place much more long term think anyone has a chance starts at 8 p.m. Sammon and eral Liberal Party is making them to third-party status and care that’s regulated,” she against Trudeau. I think it’s Wednesdays-Sat- Pape avenues, waves, but former East York making the New Democratic said. already been decided he’s urdays, and at 2 and on St. politician Deborah Coyne Party the official Opposition. “We need much more leader,” he said. p.m. on Sundays. Dennis Drive, plans to give her relation a “What has happened over community-based care, more Wiseman also commented Tickets are $20 a 68-year- run for his money. the years is Canadians don’t help for families that are car- on the media buzz around the for adults and old male was Coyne is the mother of see the Liberal Party as hav- ing for elderly parents. The Liberal Party leadership. $15 for students. pepper-sprayed former Prime Minister Pierre ing a strong narrative that national government is re- “The Liberals were the They’re avail- and his 73-year- Trudeau’s daughter (and resonates with them,” Coyne sponsible for what I call na- dominant party since 1896, able for purchase old female Justin’s half-sister), Sarah.